SAQA All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Avoid and prevent crimes and transgressions of the Correctional Services Act and demonstrate understanding of the meaning and effect of criminal convictions 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
114019  Avoid and prevent crimes and transgressions of the Correctional Services Act and demonstrate understanding of the meaning and effect of criminal convictions 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Corrections 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 08 - Law, Military Science and Security Safety in Society 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  12 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2007-08-07  2010-08-07  SAQA 0160/05 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2011-08-07   2014-08-07  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
This unit standard will be useful to all people working in the corrections environment

People credited with this unit standard are able to:
  • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of how criminal liability is determined
  • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of different crimes
  • Avoid committing and prevent transgressions of the Correctional Services Act from being committed
  • Avoid committing crimes in the execution of duties and prevent (minimise) crimes from being committed by staff or prisoners/offenders 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    The credit calculation is based on the assumption that learners are already competent in terms of the following outcome or area of learning when starting to learn towards this unit standard:
  • Understanding the concept of crime and its consequences in general 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    Specific range statements are provided in the body of the unit standard where they apply to particular specific outcomes or assessment criteria. 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of how criminal liability is determined. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    1. Knowledge and understanding of the elements of criminal liability is demonstrated in terms of the legal theory applicable. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Act, unlawfulness, culpability, causation, legality
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    2. Understanding is demonstrated of the grounds for justification and how they exclude liability by the exclusion of lawfulness or culpability. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Private defence, necessity, official capacity, acting under lawful order, involuntary action, mistake.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    3. Powers and duties are executed without undue fear for criminal liability in cases where grounds of justification are applicable and a legal duty to act exist. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Necessity, emergency, self defence, in circumstances including life threatening attacks, hostage situations, emergency situations, contingency
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    4. Understanding is demonstrated and misperceptions avoided of defences that do not exclude liability. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Provocation, intoxication, acting under unlawful order, exceeding the boundaries of official capacity
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of different crimes. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    1. Knowledge of all potential criminal charges and categories of crimes are demonstrated by explanation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    2. Understanding of indirect liability is demonstrated in accordance with legal theory applicable. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Conspiracy, co-perpetrator, accomplice, accessory after the fact.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    3. Conduct that will result in liability in terms of the prohibitions are avoided in compliance with prohibited conduct. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    4. Guidance to prisoners or offenders are provided in accordance to the prohibitions applicable. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    5. Understanding of the type of crime that prisoners or offenders have been convicted of is demonstrated in inter-action with them by attempts to develop. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Avoid committing and prevent transgressions of the Correctional Services Act from being committed. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    1. Knowledge and understanding of transgressions or offences as described by the Correctional Services Act are demonstrated by verbal explanation. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    All offences or transgressions contained in the Correctional Services Act
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    2. Conduct as described in the different offences are identified in terms of the wording of the prohibitive provisions. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    3. Examples of conduct that will qualify as transgressions in terms of the Correctional Services Act are generated. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    4. Respect for the Correctional Services Act is demonstrated in compliance with the prohibitive provisions in execution of duties and displayed in interaction with prisoners/offenders. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    5. Guidance to staff to prevent transgressions is provided in terms of the prohibitive provisions of the Correctional Services Act. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    6. Offences or transgressions of the Correctional Services Act are identified, reported, recommendations made and appropriate action taken preventing re-occurrence. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Avoid committing crimes in execution of duties and prevent (minimise) crimes from being committed. 
    OUTCOME NOTES 
    Avoid committing crimes in the execution of duties and prevent (minimise) crimes from being committed by staff or prisoners/offenders. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    1. Understanding is demonstrated that over-elaboration in execution of powers could result in criminal liability. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    E.g. Crimes of assault or culpable homicide resulting from excessive force
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    2. Understanding of the prohibitive elements of particular crimes specifically relevant to the performance of duties and execution of powers are demonstrated in accordance with the prohibitions. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Assault, culpable homicide, corruption, fraud.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    3. Specific crimes committed in prison or under community corrections by prisoners or offenders are identified reported, recommendations made and appropriate action taken preventing or minimising re-occurrence. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    4. Conduct that stands the risk of qualifying as crime are identified and guidance provided to individuals to change risky behaviour. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 5 
    Demonstrate understanding of the meaning and effect of convictions of different prisoners. 
    OUTCOME NOTES 
    Demonstrate understanding of the meaning and effect of convictions of different prisoners or offenders 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    1. Interaction with prisoners are exercised with cognisance of the way to approach a particular prisoner taking the particular conviction into account. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    2. Understanding of the extent of the process prior to conviction and sentence and the difficulty for the State in ascertaining a conviction is demonstrated in the resistance shown against being manipulated. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    3. Inputs and recommendations regarding development programs are done with due consideration to the type of crime convictions of different prisoners or offenders are based on in accordance to the different needs created by different criminal convictions. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    4. Understanding of the difference in seriousness, consequences, and motivations behind, between different crimes are demonstrated in inputs and recommendations regarding placement and classification of prisoners or offenders. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
    1. Anyone assessing a candidate against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA.
    2. Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this unit standard must be accredited as a provider through the relevant ETQA by SAQA.
    3. Moderation of assessment will be overseen by the relevant ETQA according to the moderation guidelines and the agreed ETQA procedures. 

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    The following essential embedded knowledge will be assessed through assessment of the specific outcomes in terms of the stipulated assessment criteria:
  • Provisions of the Correctional Services Act relating to transgressions or offences
  • Prohibited conduct
  • Types of crime
  • Theory regarding the determination of criminal liability

    Candidates are unlikely to achieve all the specific outcomes, to the standards described in the assessment criteria, without knowledge of the listed embedded knowledge. This means that for the most part, the possession or lack of the knowledge can be directly inferred from the quality of the candidate`s performance. Where direct assessment of knowledge is required, assessment criteria have been included in the body of the unit standard. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems and make decisions using critical and creative thinking.
  • Note: Decisions are made with due consideration to the potential transgression of laws. Problem solving are reflected by anticipation of whether planned conduct are potentially in transgression of legislation or could potentially lead to criminal liability. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage themselves and their activities responsibly and effectively.
  • Note: Activities are organised and managed in a manner that avoid potential criminal liability. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information.
  • Note: Reflected in cases where crime occurs in prison and the official has to deal with it in terms of reporting the crime and later testifying about it. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively, using visual, mathematical and / or language skills in the modes of oral and / or written presentations.
  • Note: Information regarding criminal liability as well as potential transgressions of the Correctional Services Act needs to be communicated effectively to inmates/prisoners/offenders in order promote law abiding attitudes and results. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology effectively and critically showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others.
  • Note: Technology are utilised to identify criminal behaviour inside prison. (E.g. CCTV) 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems by recognising that problem-solving contexts do not exist in isolation.
  • Note: Understanding of the world as a set of related systems are reflected by the understanding of the elements of criminal liability and the process that led to the conviction of those in their care. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    Assessors should keep the following principles in mind when designing and conducting assessments against this unit standard:
  • Focus the assessment activities in terms of the title.
  • Assessment activities should be as close to the real performance as possible and when simulations are used, there should be supporting evidence to show that the person is able to perform in the real situation
  • Assessment activities should focus on outcomes and should be sufficient to enable evidence to be gathered around all the assessment criteria.
  • The assessment criteria provide the specifications against which assessment judgements should be made. In most cases, knowledge can be inferred from the quality of the performances, but in other cases, knowledge and understanding will have to be tested through questioning techniques. Where this is required, there will be assessment criteria to specify the standard required
  • All assessment should be conducted in line with the following well documented principles of assessment: appropriateness, fairness, manageability, integration into work or learning, validity, direct, authentic, sufficient, systematic, open and consistent. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    Terminology
    Terms have been clarified as far as possible through the use of range statements. 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  48553   National Diploma: Corrections Science  Level 5  NQF Level 05  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2020-07-30  SAS SETA 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    NONE 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.