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History behind Accreditation
The Child Justice Act 75 of 2008 gave birth to the process of Accreditation of
Diversion programmes and service providers in South Africa . Child Justice Act
75 of 2008 was promulgated in 2008 and it regulates services and gives guidance
for dealing with children at risk and in conflict with the law. A Policy
Framework on diversion services in South Africa exists and was tabled in
Parliament on the 31 May 2010. The Department of Social Development is thus
responsible for ensuring that Accreditation processes are implemented and
maintained. |
Accreditation of Diversion Services is necessary
to :
•Serve and protect the needs of children and youth at risk, and in conflict with
the law;
•Ensure that diversion service providers and programmes comply with minimum
norms and standards;
•Support, by means of capacity-building, the focused development and
implementation of evidence-based practice in the field of criminal justice;
•Enable and facilitate sustained quality service delivery through support,
guidance and capacity-building;
•Enchmark successful practices by the sharing of information;
•Promote accountability;
•Take decisive and appropriate action where violations of rights occur;
•Facilitate continuous quality improvement of diversion programmes;
•Broaden the credibility and public acceptance of diversion practice within the
criminal justice system. |
Who qualifies to be accredited?
• Non-profit organisation
• School
•Company
•Government department
•Individual
•Close corporation or..
•Partnership |
Structure of Accreditation There are 3 structures
in the Accreditation process, namely;
• Site verification team
• Accreditation Committee
• Quality Assurance Panel
Members of the three structures are representative of government officials,
non-governmental sector, academics and subject specialists |