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Child Justice Act, 2008 (Act No. 75 of 2008)

Chapter 5 : Assessment of Child

40. Assessment report of probation officer

 

(1) The probation officer must complete an assessment report in the prescribed manner with recommendations on the following issues, where applicable:
(a) The possible referral of the matter to a children's court in terms of section 50 or 64;
(b) the appropriateness of diversion, including a particular diversion service provider, or a particular diversion option or options, as provided for in section 53;
(c) the possible release of the child into the care of a parent, an appropriate person or guardian or on his or her own recognisance, in terms of section 24;
(d) if it is likely that the child could be detained after the first appearance at the preliminary inquiry, the placement of the child in a specified child and youth care centre or prison in terms of section 29 or 30;
(e) in the case of a child under the age of 12 years, establish what measures need to be taken in terms of section 9;

[Section 40(1)(e) substituted by section 14(a) of the Child Justice Amendment Act, 2019 (Act No. 28 of 2019), Notice No. 641, GG43402, dated 4 June 2020 - effective 19 August 2022 per Proclamation Notice 2400, GG46752, dated 19 August 2022]

(f) [Section 40(1)(f) deleted by section 14(b) of the Child Justice Amendment Act, 2019 (Act No. 28 of 2019), Notice No. 641, GG43402, dated 4 June 2020 - effective 19 August 2022 per Proclamation Notice 2400, GG46752, dated 19 August 2022]
(g) whether a further and more detailed assessment of the child is required in order to consider the circumstances referred to in subsection (3); and
(h) an estimation of the age of the child if this is uncertain, as provided for in section 13.

 

(2) A recommendation referred to in subsection (1)(d) relating to the placement of the child in a child and youth care centre must be supported by current and reliable information in a prescribed form, obtained by the probation officer from the functionary responsible for the management of the centre regarding—
(a) the availability or otherwise of accommodation for the child in question; and
(b) the level of security, amenities and features of the centre.

 

(3) A recommendation referred to in subsection (1)(g) may be made in one or more of the following circumstances:
(a) The possibility that the child may be a danger to others or to himself or herself;
(b) the fact that the child has a history of repeatedly committing offences or absconding;
(c) where the social welfare history of the child warrants a further assessment; and
(d) the possibility that the child may be admitted to a sexual offenders' programme, substance abuse programme or other intensive treatment programme.

 

(4) The probation officer must indicate in the assessment report whether or not the child intends to acknowledge responsibility for the alleged offence.

 

(5) The report referred to in subsection (1) must be submitted to the prosecutor before the commencement of a preliminary inquiry, with due regard to the time periods referred to in section 43(3)(b).