Browsing by Author "Graser, Roland Rudolf."

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An investigation into drug use amongst pupils in selected Indian high schools in the Durban municipal area.
(1990) Pillay, Krisandren.; Graser, Roland Rudolf.
This is a thesis on drug use among Indian high school pupils in the Durban municipal area. This study was undertaken because of the high incidence of drug use reported among Indian youth, and because of the paucity of factual information and research on the subject, in South Africa. The objectives of this investigation were to obtain scientific and objective information on the dynamics and causal factors associated with the use of drugs. The findings were compared to those of existing studies. The sample comprised of 128 drug users and 128 non-users, selected from ten Indian secondary schools in the Durban municipal area. The data from drug-users and non-users was obtained through the use of a confidential questionnaire. School guidance counsellors assisted with the administration and distribution of the questionnaires. In this investigation the researcher compared the biographical details of both drug users and non-users. It was concluded that drug users and non-users came from divergent socio-economic backgrounds, although drug users tended to be more represented among the lower socio-economic group. In this investigation it was established that male pupils showed more preference for the use of drugs than female pupils, and the average age of the drug users appeared to be between 15-17 years. Although unfavourable family background was slightly more prevalent among the drug users, they did not account completely for significantly more drug use, since non-users who suffered from the same plight of unfavourable home background, did not resort to the use of drugs. Drugs that were most commonly used by respondents in this survey included dagga, inhalants, Mandrax and codeine. It also appeared that the influence of the peer group contributed significantly to most of the pupils initiation into drug use. It was also reported that most of the drug users indicated that they had received some information on the negative aspects of drug-taking from teachers, parents and law enforcement officials, however, some of the pupils felt that the information they received, did not really influence their behaviour and attitudes to drugs. It is hoped that the findings of the present study will be of benefit to all concerned individuals, and that it will stimulate greater awareness and responsiveness to the problem of drug use, and the inherent problems with regard to the management thereof.
Parole in South Africa.
(1982) Graser, Roland Rudolf.; Anderson, W. W.
While imprisonment developed as a more humanitarian alternative to the brutal forms of punishments which prevailed throughout history, it became increasingly evident that it had dysfunctional consequences in respect of the ability of prisoners to achieve a socially acceptable adjustment after their release from incarceration. As a result, the practice of releasing prisoners conditionally, before their sentences had expired, gradually developed. The historical roots of this practice, which became known as 'parole' - from the French concept of 'parole d'honneur', meaning word of honour - lie mainly in the practice of releasing prisoners on ticket-of-leave, developed by Maconochie at the Norfolk Island penal colony, and in the more refined conditional release system introduced into Ireland by Crofton. From the English-speaking world, the concept of parole soon spread to other countries in the Western World, and gradually became an important penological technique. Although provision was made for the conditional release of prisoners in the South African Prisons and Reformatories Act of 1911, the formal and systematic application of parole only really started coming into its own in the early 1950's. With the increasing emphasis on rehabilitation in the Prison Service, came the appointment of growing numbers of social workers and psychologists in prisons. This, in turn led to the development of a more structured and formal parole system. Yet, considerable discontent grew, especially among the judiciary, in respect of the application of parole. It was the large-scale release of short-term prisoners on so-called 'parole ' virtually immediately after their admission to prison, which incensed particularly the magistrates. An attitude survey regarding parole among judges, magistrates, the categories of prison personnel mainly responsible for the treatment of prisoners, and NICRO social workers revealed considerable disenchantment with the way in which parole was applied. What was particularly significant was that a large number of magistrates regarded parole as representing interference with the judicial decision. Furthermore, it emerged that the majority of persons from all categories of respondents felt that parole supervision was inadequate. A study of the nature and extent of parole supervision as conducted by the National Institute for Crime Prevention and Rehabilitation of Offenders (NICRO), as the only specialised private prison aftercare agency, revealed that such supervision is not of a sufficiently high standard. However, it emerged from a survey of the role of NICRO in the pre-release preparation of parolees that the organisation's involvement in such preparation was only marginal. This, it is felt, together with other factors over which NICRO had little or no control, play an important part in the inadequacy of parole supervision generally. In order to gain a comparative perspective, the Canadian parole system was also studied. It emerged that, while the complex federal-provincial relations render the Canadian parole system somewhat cumbersome, it is generally a sophisticated system, various aspects of which are worthy of emulation. This is particularly true of the variety of flexible conditional release procedures, and of the clearly structured and well administered parole system generally. However, the most valuable lesson that can be gleaned from the Canadian parole practice probably lies in the involvement of a variety of private citizens in the parole decision-making process. A number of recommendations are made in respect of the possible improvement of the South African parole system. These concern the promulgation of a parole act and parole regulations, the establishment of a national parole board, selection of prisoners for conditional release, adequate pre-release preparation of prospective parolees, release of prisoners on parole, supervision of parolees, parole conditions, suspension and revocation of parole, professional staff, liaison between all those involved in the parole system, the immediate release of short-term prisoners, and mandatory supervision.
A social profile of street children in the Durban municipal area with special reference to their deviant activities.
(1995) Chetty, Vanitha Rakshana.; Graser, Roland Rudolf.
The street child drama being played out on South African streets continues the process of victimisation begun in the families and communities. Deprivation, poverty, and disorganisation are just some of the characteristics evident in the families and communities of street children . The decision to opt for street life in exchange for the grinding poverty and hardships of family and community life, is a stark illustration of children who have no other options, but a life on the streets. The process of becoming a street child ends with the runaway episode and opens new vistas of victimisation for street children .on the streets. One process ends therefore, and another one begins. It is argued in this study that street children are doubly victimised. Victimisation in the streets sets in motion the process of engaging , in deviant careers, which engenders further victimisation . Three themes are evident in the present study, these are causation, victimisation and deviance. From the discussion of these themes it is possible to construct a social profile of street children, before and after street life . Chapter one introduces the subject for study by discussing the background to the study, rationale behind it, aims, theoretical assumptions and definitions of relevant constructs . Chapter two reviews the literature on street children with specific reference to the causation, victimisation and deviance themes. Chapter three provides a methodological account of the research procedure. Chapters four and five present the findings from the empirical study. The perceptions of street children and service providers are discussed within a symbolic interactionistic perspective and highlight the victimisation and deviance themes in the study. Chapter six contains the recommendations and conclusions.
The role of Indian policemen in the South African police force.
(1983) Poodhun, Edward Emmanuel.; Graser, Roland Rudolf.
No abstract available.