SESSION TOPIC

OUTCOMES

The Basics of the Child Justice Act

• Understand what the CJA is, and why it was developed. 

Age Groups and Criminal Capacity

• What are the age groups of the amended CJA?
• Apply knowledge to case studies. 

Schedule  of Offences

• List and describe the schedules of offences.

The Process

• Understand and describe the different stages of children in conflict with the law, in terms of the CJA. 

Arrest

• Understand the different requirements for children of different ages from the perspective of the SAPS when making an arrest.

Pre-Trial Assessment

• Understand what an assessment is, and what its purpose is
• Identify which children in conflict with the law are required to have an assessment.
• Explain the requirements places upon the SAPS’s regarding assessments
• Explain when an assessment must take place
• Describe the conditions for requiring a more detailed assessment

The Preliminary Inquiry

• Explain what a preliminary inquiry is, and what its purpose is.
• Identify which children in conflict with the law are required to have a preliminary inquiry.
• Identify which role-players attend a preliminary inquiry.
• Explain the timeframes during which a preliminary inquiry is required to be held.
• Describe the orders that can be made at a preliminary inquiry.
• List the duties of the inquiry magistrate at the preliminary inquiry. 

Diversion

• Describe what diversion is and what its purpose is.
• Identify the role-players who can grant a diversion order.
• List and describe the diversion levels.
• Describe how diversion orders ate monitored.
• Explain what happens if a child does not comply with their diversion order.
• Explain the purpose of the diversion register.

Sentencing Options

• List and describe the sentencing options available to child in conflict with the law.
• Explain the purpose of the pre-sentence report.
• Explain how imprisonment may and may not be used with children in conflict with the law. 

Legal Representation

• Explain the requirements of legal representative for children in conflict with the law.
• Describe the duties of the child’s legal representative.
• Describe the duties of the presiding judicial officer in relation to the legal representation of a child in conflict with the law. 

Expungement of Records

• Explain what expungement is.
• Explain how the expungements of records applies to the CJA.
• Describe the process of record expungement.
• Explain how diversion orders are expunged. 

SAPS National Instructions

• Understand what the SAPS National Instructions cover with regards to the CJA. 

Oversight: the national and provincial committees

• Name and explain the responsibilities of the national and provincial committees for the implementation of the CJA.