Criminal Justice Monitor

The Monitor measures changing crime levels and evaluates the criminal justice system’s performance. New to the Crime Index, theMonitor will track selected indicators every six months.

The Central Firearms Registry:
Assessing data accuracy

A survey estimates that the CFR is less than 30% accurate. The computer system needs upgrading, staff require training and licence holders must update information with the CFR.

Violence against women:
An evaluation of service providers

The second in a two part series shows that survivors of domestic and sexual assault are largely satisfied with treatment received by doctors, nurses and counsellors. Reports on the police are less positive.

The rising costs of crime:
State spending on criminal justice

State spending on criminal justice has outpaced the inflation rate for several years. Prisons received the greates budget increase since 1994. The police’s portion of the budget has declined.

Capitalising on greed and gullibility:
International fraudsters in SA

An Interpol survey shows that ‘West African Fraud’ is decreasing but South Africa is being used to stage these scams and individuals are still taken in by fraudsters.

Computer crime:
Challenges of a new technology

Computer crime cost SA R360 million in 1997. Legislation, training and appropriate internal controls and personnel policies to detect and reduce computer crime are needed.