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CMY2602
Assignment 1

Name: Shenge Xolani Ndlovu

Student Number: 64333825
Module Code: CMY2602

Unique Number: 726007

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Table of contents
Question 1……………………………………………………………………………3
Introduction…………………………………………………………………………3
Definition of key concepts: Property Crime………………………………………3

Observations of the Neutralization Theory………………………………………..3

Examples……………………………………………………………………………..4
Question 2………………………………………………………………………4
Introduction…………………………………………………………………………4
Definition of key concepts: Traffic officers……………………………………….4

The powers and duties of a traffic officer…………………………………..4

List of references………………………………………………….5
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Question 1

Introduction
Neutralisation was developed as means for explaining how criminal offenders
engage in rule breaking activity while negating their culpability, or blame. The
theory was first introduced in 1957 by criminologist Gresham Sykes and David
Matza, who contended that juvenile delinquents actually drift between law-
abiding and law-breaking behavior. juvenile delinquents know the difference
between law-abiding and law-breaking behavior, and that they understand
that law-breaking behavior is wrong. Regardless, these juveniles' actions and
behavior drift between the two. Since Sykes and Matza first introduced the
theory, it has expanded beyond juvenile delinquents to include all criminals.

Sykes and Matza’s neutralisation theory postulating that neutralisation is an

important element in the commission of crime finds support in the shoplifting
literature especially in relation to “denial of the victim”, that is, the offender
insists that nobody has been hurt who did not deserve that injury.

Definition of key concepts: Property Crime

In a property crime, a victim's property is stolen or destroyed, without the use
or threat of force against the victim. Property crimes include burglary and theft
as well as vandalism and arson.

Observations of the Neutralization Theory

Sykes and Matza developed their theory of neutralization according to four

observations of juvenile delinquent behavior. These four observations are:

1. Despite previous indicators that offenders were part of a subculture

that has zero remorse upon committing a deviant act, the juvenile
offenders experienced notable guilt or shame after committing the act.
2. The juvenile offenders were observed to respect and admire law-
abiding people, indicating that they understand and somewhat adhere
to conventional, law-abiding norms within society.
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3. There appear to be certain groups that the offender will not victimize or
harm, such as relatives, friends, or churches of their own faith. This
indicates that there is some value structure to what defines a valid
victim of a particular offense.
4. It's highly unlikely that these juvenile offenders are completely immune
to the dominant influences of society regarding conventional social
norms. This is true even if most people immediately surrounding them
are law-breakers. As such, even though the family and/or friends
surrounding them may be criminals, the juveniles still agree with the
broad social expectations that encourage individuals to conform to law-
abiding behavior.

Examples

 Robbery
 Burglary
 Shoplifting
 Vandalism
 Fencing

Question 2

Introduction

Section 64F of the South African Police Service Act 68 of 1995, states that all
members of a metropolitan police department shall exercise all their powers
and duties, with due regard to the fundamental rights of every person, as is
enshrined within the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996.

Definition of key concepts: Traffic officers

Are often referred to colloquially as traffic cops or traffic enforces, are police
offices who direct or serve in a traffic or roads policing unit enforcing rules of
the road.

The powers and duties of a traffic officer

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By implication, a member of a metropolitan police department is prescribed by

section 3I of the National Road Traffic Act 93 of 1996. These powers and
duties, limited to their area of jurisdiction are:

 Those conferred upon an inspector of licences

 to require the driver of any vehicle to stop such vehicle (when in
uniform)
 To inspect, test or cause to be inspected or tested any part of and/or
functioning of any vehicle, and/or the equipment thereof by any person
he/she considers competent to do so
 To ascertain the dimensions of, the load on, or the mass, axle mass
load or axle unit mass load of any vehicle, or the mass of any combination
of vehicles, and, if such a vehicle or combination of vehicles exceeds the
permissible mass in term of this Act, prohibit the operation of such vehicle
or combination of vehicles on a public road until such mass has been
reduced or adjusted.
 To drive any vehicle in the performance of his/her duties provided, he
is licensed to drive a motor vehicle of the class concerned
 To temporarily forbid any person to continue to drive or be in charge of
a vehicle if the person appears to such officer, by reason of his physical or
mental condition, to be incapable, for the time being, of driving or being in
charge of such vehicle
 To regulate and control traffic upon any public road
 To require any person to furnish his name and address and give any
other particulars which are required for his identification or for any process
if such officer
 Reasonably suspects such a person of having committed an offence
under this Act, or, if in the opinion of such officer, he/she is able to give
evidence in regard to the commission or suspected commission of any
such offence
 To demand from the owner, operator or driver of any motor vehicle, to
produce any document prescribed in terms of this Act.

List of References
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Study. 2022. Intro to Criminal Justice: Neutralization Theory in Criminology

. Available at: https://study.com/academy/lesson/neutralization-theory-in-

criminology-definition-lesson.html (Accessed on: 11/03/2022).

University of South Africa. Department of Criminology and Security Science.

2020. Principles of Crime Prevention, Reduction and Control. Only Study
Guide for CMY2602. Pretoria: University of South Africa.