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Offenders' perceptions of correctional education programmes in the correctional facilities of TshwanePeople-against-the-law is a societal phenomenon that will never disappear, even in societies where law and order are effectively enforced and practised. Political, economic and social conditions contribute to reasons why some people end up in correctional facilities. This study investigated the perceptions of offenders enrolled in education and training programmes offered by three correctional centres in Pretoria.
 The study adopted a pragmatic qualitative methodology in which the perceptions of the offenders in the educational programmes, and officials were investigated on whether the programmes addressed their personal development and that of their communities. Interviews and observations were used to collect data during tuition activities. Sixty-five (65) males, females, youth offenders, ex-convicts and officials from Correctional Services and non-governmental organisations participated in the study. Bronfenbrenner’s systems and Knowles’ andragogy were used as the theoretical base to understand the dynamics of adult learning in challenging prison environments.
 The study concluded that educational programmes offered by the Department of Correctional Services must be needs-based and align to employment opportunities, self-esteem and proper rehabilitation of individual offenders. Adult education programmes grounded on andragogic principles and practices should be revisited in correctional centres’ contexts. Thus educational programmes within Correctional Services should not only be mandatory, but teaching and learning activities should be conducted by qualified adult educators, and address the social needs of the adult offenders.
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In Search of Success : Case Studies in Justice Sector Development in Sub-Saharan AfricaThe World Bank, Department for International Development (DFID) and other donors have long been engaged in legal and judicial reform in sub-Saharan Africa in such areas as legal drafting, strengthening court administration, judicial training, and the empowerment of citizens through a better understanding of the legal system. This has often been done on an ad hoc basis with only limited review of other reform efforts in the region. In order to foster a more responsive approach to justice sector development programs, a collection of case studies was commissioned. One of the more daunting tasks was identifying notable justice sector developments or reforms, which offered specific impacts and which could be examined through both a desk review and field research. Independent of the funding source, the evidence base was not only limited but revealed a need for donors themselves to invest in better data collection, which could then be analyzed and measured against benchmarks or objectives such as improved access to justice. There is a significant need to review and learn from experiences, including controversial ones, in Africa's justice sectors. These case studies are not homogenous largely because their subjects vary and span a wide array of developments that reflect the realities of the region. Each story stands alone and is in no particular order. In the final chapter, the conclusions offered in each story are digested into ideas for future actions. The collection also represents a modest range of stories and it is to be hoped that other cases will be identified and shared. A comparison of experiences of sector-wide programs (SWAPs), for example, could help both donors and governments enhance socio-economic impact. It should be noted that the emphasis in this report is on providing information about positive directions in justice sector development and the ways in which lessons learned might be applied to achieve greater impact in the future. The anticipated value of this collection is that some of the conclusions or actions may be taken up and used to contribute to improvements by those committed to improving the rule of law in sub-Saharan Africa and is in search of 'success'.
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Crime and Violence in Central America : A Development Challenge - Main ReportCrime and violence are now a key
 development issue for Central American countries. In three
 nations El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras crime rates are
 among the top five in Latin America. This report argues that
 successful strategies require actions along multiple fronts,
 combining prevention and criminal justice reform, together
 with regional approaches in the areas of drug trafficking
 and firearms. It also argues that interventions should be
 evidence based, starting with a clear understanding of the
 risk factors involved and ending with a careful evaluation
 of how any planned action might affect future options. In
 addition, the design of national crime reduction plans and
 the establishment of national cross-sectoral crime
 commissions are important steps to coordinate the actions of
 different government branches, ease cross-sectoral
 collaboration and prioritize resource allocation. Of equal
 importance is the fact that national plans offer a vehicle
 for the involvement of civil society organizations, in which
 much of the expertise in violence prevention and
 rehabilitation resides. Prevention efforts need to be
 complemented by effective law enforcement. The required
 reforms are no longer primarily legislative in nature
 because all six countries have advanced toward more
 transparent adversarial criminal procedures. The
 second-generation reforms should instead help deliver on the
 promises of previous reforms by: (i) strengthening key
 institutions and improving the quality and timeliness of the
 services they provide to citizens; (ii) improving efficiency
 and effectiveness while respecting due process and human
 rights; (iii) ensuring accountability and addressing
 corruption; (iv) increasing inter-agency collaboration; and
 (v) improving access to justice, especially for poor and
 disenfranchised groups. Specific interventions reviewed in
 the report include: information systems and performance
 indicators as a prerequisite to improve inter-institutional
 coordination and information sharing mechanisms; an internal
 overhaul of court administration and case management to
 create rapid reaction, one-stop shops; the strengthening of
 entities that provide legal counseling to the poor and to
 women; and the promotion of alternative dispute-resolution
 mechanisms and the implementation of community policing programs.