A descriptive study of offender on offender assaults in Pollsmoor Medium B Correctional Centre
In recent years, Correctional Centre violence has been much debated. Although the literature on violence is well developed, little is known about the nature and extent of violence in South African Correctional Centres, despite widespread concern and speculation. Furthermore, it is unclear whether this particular context of violence is due to the often hostile environment of Correctional Centres, or due to violent nature of inmates held in custody. This research study aims to investigate Correctional Centre violence in a South African Correctional Centre, looking specifically at offender-on-offender assaults that occurred in Pollsmoor Medium B Correctional Centre, by looking at assault incident reports and investigations. Discourse and thematic analysis was applied to single out the nature and contexts of the assaults reported. It was found that the assaults usually took place in certain spaces and times, but also that perpetrators and victims of violence often shared various commonalities. Additionally, certain units seemed more prone to violence than others, related to the finding that there were definite indications of spaces controlled by inmates and spaces controlled by correctional Officers. The study concludes that violence in South African Correctional Centres cannot be seen isolated from the offender, the outside world and their backgrounds.
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