Funksionele imperatiewe vir die sisteem van deskundige getuienislewering deur forensiese kriminoloe by vonnisoplegging in Suid-Afrikaanse strafhowe

Abstract

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.