Open AccessThe opportunity cost of the upkeep of the criminal justice system in South Africa from 1980 to 2006
Author(s) -
Pierre de Villiers,
Soon Nel
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
suid-afrikaanse tydskrif vir ekonomiese en bestuurswetenskappe/south african journal of economic and management sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.277
H-Index - 17
eISSN - 2222-3436
pISSN - 1015-8812
DOI - 10.4102/sajems.v13i4.93
Subject(s) - economic shortage , criminal justice , economic justice , political science , business , criminology , law , sociology , linguistics , philosophy , government (linguistics)
South African crime rates rose to unacceptably high levels between 1980 and 2006. As a result, vast amounts of funds were devoted to the upkeep of the criminal justice system – correctional services, justice and the police. Although it is necessary to spend a certain amount on the criminal justice system, in South Africa this expenditure was excessive. The excess funds that were spent on the upkeep of the criminal justice system could have covered the cost of financing the entire backlog in schooling facilities and a large part of the current housing shortage