Using a sentencing scheme of this sort enables magistrates and judges to maintain expensive prison cells to incapacitate violent criminals. An expanded range of sentencing options gives judges, defense lawyers, and magistrates greater latitude to exercise discretion in selecting punishments that more closely fit the circumstances of the crime and the offender. Such an approach treats prisons as a backstop, rather than the backbone of the corrections system. Such punishments require the offender to lead a productive life in the community by finding work, doing unpaid community service, learning new skills, paying restitution to victims, enrolling in a treatment or educational program or all of the above. Juvenile offenders serve hard time but typically learn little of value during their stint in prison.
Inmates adapt to prison in immature and often destructive ways.
As a result, they leave prison no better, and sometimes considerably worse, than when they went in. Mature coping is possible in the intermediate sanctions. This maturity can be facilitated by staff and program services tailored to meet individual needs. This approach can result in the effective rehabiliation of juvenile offenders. It is my contention that we ask more from the South Africa justice system.