To professionalise or not?

Abstract

The focus of this article is on the professionalisation process of Criminology in South Africa. Background to the start of this initiative by the Criminological and Victimological Society of Southern Africa (CRIMSA) is given to provide the context and the slow progress and obstacles encountered. The article then moves on to outline the possible benefits and limitations of the professionalisation process. Furthermore, the professional four-year degree initiative is examined against the backdrop of the existing three-year BA Criminology programmes at institutions. A further issue raised, is the decreasing numbers of Masters and Doctoral Criminology students. Overall, the need for the establishment of a Professional Board for Criminology is postulated to push forward the growth of the broad discipline and the further professionalisation of this discipline as a profession via a process of registration and a Code of Ethics/Conduct.