Research
The Dilemma of Corporal Punishment of Children from Parentsa Perspective in Some Selected Rural and Urban Communities of Jimma Zone, Oromia/Ethiopia
This study investigated dilemmas of corporal punishment of children from parents’ perspective in Jimma zone. Quantitative and qualitative approaches, 71 samples, questionnaire, interview, descriptive and thematic analyses were employed. Most parents corporally punish their children. Major contributing factors of the practice include cultural beliefs, social roles, parents’ childhood personal experiences, favorable conception of the practice and limited alternative forms of child disciplining. A dilemma regarding child corporal punishment arises on the distinction between child corporal punishment for disciplining and parent’s abusive behavior. Parents do not conceive child corporal punishment as a violation of children’s rights rather as their cultural responsibility of child nurturing. Parents in rural and urban communities differently view the potential and real effects of child corporal punishment. Male children are perceived as more knowledgeable and capable of controlling themselves than female ones, hence the later need closer supervision. Diametrically opposing views held by parents and public office agents on the practice. Child corporal punishment partly serves the purpose of gender role socialization and mechanism of social control. Workable and traditionally sound community based participatory strategies should be designed to minimize negative effects of child corporal punishments. Yet no ‘one-fits-for-all’ intervention strategies can be suggested for rural and urban communities. Rather, it needs to be contextual depending on the perceived and realistic effects of the practice.
Crime Situations and Reaction of Criminal Justice System in Oromia, Ethiopia
This study examined crimes situations and reaction of criminal justice system in Oromia, Ethiopia. It attempted to analyze incidence and types of crime, determine crime and criminal rate, appraise the efficiency and measures taken by criminal justice system, and provide possible explanations on crime situations using a selected theoretical framework. Sociocultural theoretical frame work is used in explaining factors of crime. The study was conducted in Oromia National Regional State for a year 2011/12. Document or secondary data analysis of official crime statistics was used to gather information on the issues under investigation. In addition, key informant interviews were employed with police officers and record keepers. Primary and secondary data sources were collected using checklist and interview guides. Descriptive statistics was primarily used to analyze the aggregate data compiled from the police statistics. Thematic analysis was employed for qualitative information. A total of 54,852 crimes were recorded in Oromia in 2011/12. Out of the total crimes committed in the region, the majority (70%) of crimes were reported from rural areas compared to urban centers. The top five zones with the largest number of total crimes in 2011/12 were Eastern Wollega, Western Wollega, Western Showa, Eastern Showa, and Northern Showa zones in a decreasing order. Violent or crimes against the person was on the top in terms of volume followed by “other crimesâ€. Aggravated assault was the single most crime item which constituted about 30 percent of all the 43 crime items. The crime rate was 200 per 100,000 people; offenders to offenses ratio was 1.76 and 2.62 for the total and violent crimes respectively. Criminal rate for population over 15 years old was 715 per 100,000 people. The top ten crimes in terms of number of total crimes recorded accounted for more than 90 percent of all. The court process of dealing with suspected offenders is characterized by inefficiency as most
