A short history of time: charting the contribution of social development service delivery to enhance child justice 1996-2006

Abstract

By charting the contribution of social development service delivery to enhance child justice in South Africa from 1996 to 2006, this article argues that the contribution of the social development sector to child justice has been substantial. It describes a range of developments in relation to assessment, diversion, pre-trial incarceration, the residential care system and probation. It is concluded that although the Child Justice Bill has not been finalised in the South African Parliament, social welfare services to children in trouble with the law have expanded to the extent that there has been a developmentally appropriate and more progressive child justice system.