The nature of a drama-based program for young first offenders in South Africa

Abstract

The increasing tendency of youth getting involved in crime, globally as well as in South Africa is an indication of the comprehensive problem and the duty that is resting upon professionals dealing with the youth. It is therefore important that in South Africa attention will be given to the young first offender. Various intervention methods such as drama-based intervention can be used as service delivery for the young first offender. Drama based intervention hold various therapeutic values for the young first offender. This program can make use of various methods for intervention such as, dance, movement and theatre. The objectives of the program, the need of the participants as well as the background of each individual participant are determining the choice of the intervention method. A drama-based intervention program was used for the study. The aim of this study was to examine the nature of a drama-based intervention for young first offenders. The aims were to: • Through an intensive literature study the various intervention methods was studied. The finding of the literature study was that the involvement of the first young offender within any creative activity has a lasting effect on the social development of the client resulting in a decrease in anti-social behaviour such as crime. Experimental exercises that is based on social learning-; role- and cognitive-behavioural theory are very effective in working with young people • To develop, implement and evaluate a drama-based intervention program through an intensive literature study and empirical research. This program needs to focus on the decreasing and prevention of recidivism with young first offenders. This goal was achieved as the program was developed according to guidelines of the GEESE theatre, which was adapted for South-African circumstances. The program was implemented and evaluated with a group of seven young first offenders. The research showed that the most effective intervention program for young first offenders should be more experimental and based upon creative arts, rather than a structured goal-oriented program, creating opportunities for in-depth exploration of the inner self. The program would then also help the respondent to develop resiliency by building on protective factors, identifying risk factors and developing skills to manage factors such as low self esteem, family relations, peer pressure and poverty.