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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Describe the structure and functioning of criminal justice in South Africa 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
115228  Describe the structure and functioning of criminal justice in South Africa 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Criminology and Criminal Justice 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 08 - Law, Military Science and Security Safety in Society 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 4  NQF Level 04  8 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Registered" 		 2004-10-13  2007-10-13  SAQA 0756/04 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2008-10-13   2011-10-13  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard is replaced by: 
US ID Unit Standard Title Pre-2009 NQF Level NQF Level Credits Replacement Status
255761  Describe the structure and functioning of the criminal justice system in South Africa  Level 4  NQF Level 04  8   

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
This unit standard is for learners and practitioners interested in pursuing a career path to prevent/reduce crime and victimisation. The benefit of this unit standard to society is that a learner who completes it will contribute to social and economic upliftment and to improving safety in the personal, social, environmental/ecological and corporate sphere by building and confirming knowledge regarding crime and victimisation, crime prevention/reduction and criminal justice. Learners learn to participate as responsible citizens in the life of local, national and global communities by contributing to victim and offender care. They also learn the importance of being culturally sensitive across a range of social contexts when planning programmes relating to crime and victimisation. The attaining of these outcomes will also contribute to the development of learners' entrepreneurial skills within the field.

Learners credited with this unit standard will be able to:
  • Identify the different components of the criminal justice system
  • Describe the role, function and purpose of each component of the criminal justice system and its relationship to the whole system
  • Explain the origin and role of non-formal justice practices in contributing to justice in society. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Communication and language competencies should be in place before an attempt is made to attain the outcomes of this unit standard. Learners should already be able to engage in sustained oral communication and evaluate spoken texts; read, analyse and respond to a variety of texts; and write for a wide range of contexts. 

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
  • Non-formal justice systems include any form of non-state ordering which aims to respond and deal with crime. This includes community justice, restorative justice, and vigilante justice, amongst others.
  • Crime includes all types of legislated and non-legislated crime, for example, property crimes, crimes against the person (e.g. assault, bullying), workplace crime and violence, crimes against the environment etc.
  • Role-players include private individuals and organisations, community organisations, national, provincial and local authorities, the police, courts, corrections, etc.
  • Components of the criminal justice system includes the primary agencies of the justice, safety and security sector, as well as any peripheral agencies that are from time to time involved in criminal justice, such as social services.
  • The legal and legislative framework for the criminal justice system includes the Constitution and Bill of Rights, international standards, and norms governing crime prevention, the investigation and prosecution of crime, sentencing and treatment of offenders. It also includes all South African legislation and case law pertaining to the criminal justice system. 
    		•

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Describe the different components of the criminal justice system in South Africa. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The different components of the criminal justice system are identified. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The key characteristics of the different components of the criminal justice system are explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The legislative and legal framework governing the criminal justice system is described. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The functioning of the South African criminal justice system within an international and human rights framework is reviewed. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Identify the role, function and purpose of each component of the criminal justice system. 
    OUTCOME NOTES 
    Identify the role, function and purpose of each component of the criminal justice system and its relationship to the whole system. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The role, function and purpose of each component of the criminal justice system are described. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The role and function of the criminal justice system in preventing, and responding to crime are indicated. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The importance of the interconnectedness of the separate components, and their relationship to the whole system are explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The intended and actual outcomes of the criminal justice system are identified. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Describe the inter-relationship between the formal and non-formal justice systems. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The origin and development of non-formal justice systems is explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The role of non-formal criminal justice practices in contributing to justice in society is explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The role of the community and other role players in non-formal justice systems is explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The role of non-formal justice systems in preventing and responding to crime is assessed. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • Anyone assessing a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA.
  • Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this unit standard must be accredited as a provider by the relevant ETQA.
  • Moderation of assessment will be overseen by the relevant ETQA according to the moderation guidelines in the relevant qualification and the agreed ETQA procedures. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    Qualifying learners should understand and explain:
  • The development and approaches of traditional and post-modern crime/victim perspectives.
  • The framework provided by South African criminal law and the Constitution.
  • The framework provided by international human rights law governing criminal justice.
  • The development of the criminal justice system in South Africa.
  • The importance of the criminal justice system in preventing and responding to crime.
  • The elements of the non-formal criminal justice system in South Africa. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems by selecting appropriate and cost-effective crime and victimisation prevention/reduction programmes in a rational manner focusing on specific individual/social needs. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others as a member of a team, group, organisation, or community to understand and explain the criminal justice system by establishing effective communication channels to communicate with all relevant role-players. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage activities responsibly and effectively by setting realistic time frames and meeting the requirements of addressing the needs of the programme. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information needed to explain the formal and non-formal criminal justice system. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology responsibly and effectively showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others to identify and explain the role and functioning of formal and non-formal criminal justice systems. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Understand the world as a set of related systems by working in an integrated manner to understand and operate within the criminal justice system within the framework of the SA Law and the Constitution. 

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    This unit standard has been replaced by unit standard 255761, which is "Describe the structure and functioning of the criminal justice system in South Africa", Level 4, 8 credits.

    Credits:

    Activity & hours:

    Classroom learning: 30 hours
    On-the-job learning/observation: 15 hours
    Self directed learning: 25 hours
    Coaching required: 10 hours
    Total: 80 hours

    Total credits: 8 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  48856   Further Education and Training Certificate: Criminology  Level 4  NQF Level 04  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Registered"     		 2007-10-13  Was SAS SETA until Last Date for Achievement 
    Core  49872   Further Education and Training Certificate: Victim Empowerment Co-ordination  Level 4  NQF Level 04  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  HW SETA 
    Elective  49598   National Diploma: Paralegal Practice  Level 5  NQF Level 05  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  SAS SETA 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    NONE 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.