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Jean Redpath and Michael O’ Donovan are researching public law and sustainable cities, for the African Centre for Cities, and the Democracy, Governance and Rights Unit, both at the University of Cape Town. In October 2009 Michael presented some preliminary results at a seminar hosted by the DGRU, entitled Is densification just a cruel mirage? The role of law in transforming Cape Town into a compact city. Listen to the podcast of proceedings here.
The Soros Foundation Moldova published its report on the Moldovan criminal justice system in November 2009. Moldova is a former republic of the USSR, situated between Romania and the Ukraine.
Jean Redpath was international consultant to this report and she, together in particular with Nadejda Hriptievschi, wrote the English version of the report, which is available here in both English and Romanian.
The report found that while crime rates were relatively low in Moldova by developing country standards, levels of fear in Moldova were very high. Possible reasons for this include the lack of practical reform of the criminal justice system, in particular policing. The report made recommendations for reform, which included reformulation of the role of the office of the Prosecution and re-orientation of policing.
Michael O’ Donovan has been selected as a a member of the SABC’s panel of experts who will provide commentary on the 2009 election results.
Jean Redpath and Michael O’Donovan have made a submission to Parliament regarding the two Bills which seek to relocate the Scorpions under the SAPS. They argue that the move will negative implications for governance, organised crime, and Parliament.
Jean Redpath debated the issue of whether or to what extent incarceration can be considered to be a crime prevention intervention in a Wolpe Trust debate on 22 November 2007.
Jean Redpath and Michael O’Donovan have been commissioned by New Africa Books to write a book about crime in South Africa. The book will look at the available evidence on causes, correlates and solutions to crime.
Jean Redpath has been contracted as an international expert on criminal justice to the Soros Foundation Moldova. Jean visited Moldova in October 2007 to assist the Foundation in planning the project methodology for an assessment of the Moldovan criminal justice system. Jean will continue to provide assistance on the project and will visit Moldova again for this purpose during 2008 and 2009.
Jean Redpath presented a paper by invitation of the Association of Regional Court Magistrates on the impact of minimum sentencing, at a Conference entitled “Sentencing Challenges in the Regional Court” on 15 – 17 November 2007.
The Criminal Law Sentencing Amendment Bill (B15-2007) is currently before Parliament. Halakanaphila Analytics has made a written submission to Parliament on the Bill, arguing that South Africa needs comprehensive sentencing reform and should not simply make permanent a bad law, which the Bill seeks to do. Furthermore, if the Bill is passed, more frequent early releases from prison are likely. Read the full submission.
On 11 April 2007 the Centre for Justice and Crime Prevention presented an extended version of their crime mapping tool at an Institute for Security Studies seminar. The extended version of the mapping tool incorporates data on both household income and inequality, via the Gini coefficient. The mapping tool was developed and extended by Michael O’Donovan of Hlakanaphila Analytics. Watch this space for analyses of what the maps reveal! You can access the extended mapping tool here.
Robert Vivian writing in Business Day on 13 March 2007Â uses the case of Simon Prophet as an example of how our courts collude in flouting rights by allowing the application of civil asset forfeiture legislation. Yet his argument contains inaccuracies and elisions of truth. Jean Redpath of Hlakanaphila Analytics puts the record straight and argues that in the case of Simon Prophet, justice was done.
The broader public feels that crime is worsening, while government, supported by crime statistics showing reductions in crime, suggests the opposite. Can the two views be reconciled? Jean Redpath, writing in Business Day explains the apparent disjuncture.
The Centre for Justice and Crime Prevention (CJCP) launched their innovative crime and victimisation map in March 2007. This map brings together in accessible format three different sources of data on crime and victimisation in South Africa – a first in South Africa. The mapping tool was developed on behalf CJCP by Michael O’Donovan of Hlakanaphila Analytics and can be accessed here.