This short article explains the role of probation officers in the criminal justice system.  > 

Family Group Conferences are one of the many restorative justice mechanisms used to reintegrate young offenders into society. This short article explains in more detail what family group conferences are and how they work.  > 

This note describes NICRO, the main provider of diversion services.  > 

The provincial Department of Social Development, along with non-profit organisations, runs a number of diversion programmes for children who have run foul of the law.  > 

Youths at risk are learners who have problems such as drug and/or alcohol abuse or are in trouble with the law. Their emotional and/or behavioural problems are barriers to their learning and development.  > 

Who classifies as a child? What are the rights of children who are arrested? What can a parent/guardian do to help a child who has been arrested? What can I do if my child is being treated inappropriately? Where can I find out more about ...  > 

This document outlines what home-based supervision is and how it can be used to minimise the number of children detained in prisons and other residential facilities.  > 

Young people who have been accused of a crime are often diverted out of the official criminal justice system, with or without special conditions, and into programmes aimed at developing life skills as an alternative to spending time in prison.  > 

Concerns about the effectiveness of traditional criminal justice systems have given rise to new approaches to criminal justice. One such approach is Restorative Justice, a theory that focuses on reconciling and reintegrating offenders into society rather than on retribution. This theory and its practical applications are explained briefly in this short article.  > 

The Western Cape Child Justice Forum is a unique entity that exists to monitor the numbers of children awaiting trial in the province and develop and promote alternative methods of dealing with young offenders. Details on the forum are provided in this short descriptive article.  > 

This Bill proposes a new criminal justice process for children accused of committing crimes. It aims to protect the rights of these children. The proposed law deals with the detention of children and their release from detention and provides for ways of diverting these cases away from the formal courts. There are also provisions on sentencing and legal representation. The Bill aims to ensure that children in conflict with the law can be reintegrated into society.  >