Released female economic offenders' perceptions of the economic offences rehabilitation programmes presented by the Department of Correctional Services

Globally, economic crime has increased dramatically. In South Africa, approximately 45% of women are incarcerated for economic crimes, while female offenders in general make up less than 3% of the total inmate population. Despite the number of incarcerated female economic offenders, there are few gender-specific rehabilitation programmes developed to meet their needs. The current study aims to gain a better understanding of released female economic offenders’ perception of the current economic offences rehabilitation programmes presented by the Department of Correctional Services (DCS). A qualitative research study was conducted with released adult female economic offenders from two Community Corrections Offices within the Gauteng Region. An instrumental case study design was implemented with 15 released adult female economic offenders recruited through volunteer sampling. Data was collected through personal (face-to-face) and telephonic interviews using a semi-structured interview guide. The data were analysed using Braun and Clarke’s reflexive thematic analysis. All 15 participants were older women who received a good education, and the study comprised participants from both low- and high-income paying jobs. The majority of the participants were single mothers who had no criminal history and began offending at a later stage in their lives. Female economic offenders are not passive recipients of rehabilitation programmes presented by DCS. Rather, they are self-reflective, articulate, and aware of their needs, whereby they offer thoughtful critiques and actionable recommendations. Their lived experiences reveal that effective rehabilitation must be trauma-informed, gender- and need-specific, professionally delivered, and grounded in the realities of reintegration. The study’s objectives were met, and recommendations for future research were also provided. The researcher developed the Framework for Improved Female Economic Offenders’ Rehabilitation and Reintegration based on the participants’ responses, which can be used by DCS to improve the rehabilitation and reintegration of released female economic offenders.

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Pretoria

Year dc:date.issued

2025

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Booyens, Karen

• UCTD
• Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
• Community corrections
• Economic crime
• Female economic offender
• Female offender
• Department of Correctional Services
• Parole
• Parolee
• Rehabilitation
• Rehabilitation programmes
• Reintegration
• Released female economic offender

Statement dc:rights

• © 2024 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.

Language dc:language.iso

en

DOI

https://doi.org/10.25403/UPresearchdata.31095628

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/107438