Deskundige getuienislewering deur forensiese kriminoloe in strafhowe
van die Republiek van Suid-Afrika word as komponent van die kriminele
regsplegingsisteem volgens Parsons se struktureel-funksionele teorie
ontleed. Die hipoteses was, dat as 'n sisteem van sodanige getuienislewering
aan die elemente van Parsons se vierfunksie paradigma
doelbereiking, integrasie, aanpassing, patroonhandhawing en spanningsbeheer
- voldoen, het dit bestaansreg en sal dit voortbestaan.
'n Literatuurstudie is gedoen. Die deelnemende waarnemingsprosedure
is gebruik aangesien navorser sedert 1986 voorvonnisevalueringsverslae
opstel en deskundige getuienis ingevolge artikel 274 van die Strafproseswet,
wet 51 van 1977, lewer. Twee observasietegnieke, naamlik
gevalle- en veldstudies, is gebruik.
Ten einde te bepaal hoe die forensiese kriminoloog 'n bydrae tot
regverdige strafoplegging kan lewer, is die geskiedkundige ontwikkeling
en die hedendaagse omskrywing van straf, verskillende vonnisteoriee
en die filosofiese fundering van die verantwoordelikheid van die
misdadiger, nagegaan. Nadat die vryewil-teorie teen determinisme
opgeweeg is, is besluit dat versoening tussen die teoriee deur aan-vaarding van sagte determinisme meegebring word. In die howe word die
uitwerking van die utilitaristiese doelstellings van weerhouding,
beskerming van die gemeenskap en rehabilitasie dikwels deur die
eweredigheidsbeginsel in retribusie getemper.
Die Parsoniese funksionele imperatief van doelbereiking is eerstens
vanuit die oorkoepelende doelwitte van die Polisie, die howe en die
Departement Korrektiewe Dienste, wat die kriminele regsplegingsisteem
uitmaak, benader. Daarna is die doelwitte van deskundige getuienislewering
deur forensiese kriminoloe as komponent van die strafhofsisteem
uitgespel en aan die hand van verskillende strafalternatiewe
ontleed. Daar word aan die doelbereikingsimperatief beantwoord.
Integrasie as funksionele imperatief behels die bereiking van beheer
oor lede van 'n sisteem. Relevante bepalings van die Strafproseswet
is op die werksaamhede van forensiese kriminoloe toegepas en die
verloop van 'n verhoor is uiteengesit. Voldoening aan vereistes met
betrekking tot getuienis oor vonnis, die aard van deskundigheid en die
toelaatbaarheid van opinie-getuienis asook aan die beginsels, doel en
funksies van voorvonnis-evalueringsverslae, is uiteengesit om aan te
toon dat aan Parsons se integrasie-imperatief beantwoord word.
Aanpassing tussen alle akteurs in 'n betrokke sisteem is die derde
funksionele imperatief.
behoeftes van sy klient,
Die forensiese kriminoloog moet by die
die straftoemeter, die staatsaanklaer en
ander regslui aanpas. Aanpassing tussen verskillende professies,
soos medici, sielkundiges
regverdige straftoemeting.
kultuurgroepe, aanpassings
en maatskaplike werkers, bevorder 'n meer
Daar moet ook, ter wille van verskillende
gemaak word.
Ten einde aan die imperatief van patroonhandhawing en spanningsbeheer
te voldoen, moet deskundige forensiese kriminoloe se opleiding aan
Bloom se taksonomie van leerdoelwitte op kognitiewe, affektiewe en
manipulerende terrein beantwoord. 'n Leemte is die gebrek aan praktiese
opleiding van forensiese kriminoloe wat meebring dat teorie en praktyk nie geintegreer word in die beroepsvoorbereiding vir die
professie nie. Die akademiese opleiding behoort aan staatsbeleid soos
in SANSO 115 en NASOP 02-116 uiteengesit, te voldoen. Forensiese
kriminoloe behoort ook opleiding in regsonderhoudvoering te kry en 'n
etiese kode behoort opgestel te word.
Die navorsingsverslag is afgesluit met 'n samevatting, 'n gevolgtrekking
dat aan die doelstellings daarvan beantwoord is, en dat die bevindings
die hipoteses steun. Enkele voorstelle vir verdere navorsing
is aan die hand gedoen.
Expert evidence by forensic criminologists in criminal courts of the
Republic of South Africa is analysed as component of the criminal
justice system according to Parson's structural functional theory. The
hypotheses were that, should such system of expert evidence comply
with the elements of Parsons's four-functional paradigm - goal attainment,
integration, adaptation, pattern maintenance and tension control
- it will justify its existence and survive.
As researcher has since 1986 compiled presentence evaluation reports
and has given expert evidence in terms of section 274 of the Criminal
Procedure Act, act 51 of 1977, the research procedure of participant
observation was chosen. Two observational techniques, namely case and
field studies were used. A study of the relevant literature was also
undertaken.
In order to ascertain how the forensic criminologist can contribute to
just sentencing, the historical development and the contemporary
definition of punishment, different theories of punishment as well as
the philosophical foundation of criminal responsibility is investigated. After comparing the free will theory with determinism, a decision
is made that a conciliation between the theories can be achieved by
accepting soft determinism. In the courts the effect of the utilitarian
aims of deterrence, protection of the community and rehabilitation
are often tempered by the principle of proportionality in retribution.
The Parsonian functional imperative of goal attainment is approached
from the overarching aims of the Police, the criminal courts and
Correctional Services. The aims of expert evidence by forensic criminologists
as component of the criminal court system, are described and
analysed with reference to different sentencing alternatives. The goal
attainment imperative is answered.
Integration as functional imperative, comprises the attainment of
control over members of the system. Relevant provisions of the Criminal
Procedure act are applied to the activities of the forensic
criminologist, and the course of the court proceedings is discussed.
In order to demonstrate that Parsons's integration imperative is
answered, compliance with the requirements of evidence on punishment,
the nature of expertise as well as with the principles, aim and
functions of presentence evaluation reports are indicated.
Adaptation between the actors in the system involved is the third
functional imperative. The forensic criminologist should adapt to the
needs of his client, the sentencer, the state prosecutor and other
legal representatives. Adaptation between different professions, such
as medical, officials, psychologists and social workers promotes a
more just punishment. Adaptations should also be made for cultural
differences.
In order to satisfy the imperative of pattern maintenance and tension
control, the education and training of expert forensic criminologists
should comply with Bloom's taxonomy of learning aims on the cognitive,
affective and manipulative terrain. A deficiency is the lack of practical training of forensic criminologists. Integration between
theory and practice is, therefore, not attained in occupational preparation
for the profession. The academic training should comply with
the policy of the state set out in SAPSE 115 and NATED 02-116. Forensic
criminologists should also be trained in legal interviewing and an
ethical code should be compiled.
The research report is concluded with a resume, a conclusion that the
aims of the research have been attained and an exposition of how the
findings support the hypotheses. Some suggestions regarding further
research are made.
