Punishment in South Africa: an argument for rehabilitation of offenders

Abstract

TIlls research report examines the traditional theories of punishment, that is, retribution, deterrence and rehabilitation, and assesses their practical and empirical relevance in South Africa at the present time. It is argued that the theories of retribution and deterrence are largely inadequate to deal with offenders effectively, and consequently little relief in the crime rate could be anticipated if we were to institute a system of punishment based purely on punitive considerations. By contrast, it is argued that the theory of rehabilitation offers a more holistic approach to deal with offenders, and is really the only system which takes crime control seriously. In sum, it is argued that a system of punishment rooted in retributive 01' deterrent principles will neither be more just, more effective nor more humane than a system which has rehabilitation of offenders as its goal.