Frequently asked questions.

A pre-sentence report (voorvonnisverslag) is a comprehensive court document compiled after a person has been found guilty, but before sentence is imposed. It gives the court a holistic view of the offender — their background, circumstances, attitude, and prospects for rehabilitation — so the sentence can be individualised.

Pre-sentence reports are typically requested by the court itself, the defence (attorney or advocate), or by Legal Aid. Private clients can also commission an independent report, usually in coordination with their attorney.

I am an independent registered social worker in private practice, specialising in court-directed assessments. Probation Officers are state-employed and assigned through the Department of Social Development under the Probation Services Act. Defence teams typically commission an independent report when they want a deeper, faster, more individualised assessment than the state can produce.

The court is not bound by the recommendation, but a thorough, balanced report is highly influential. The role of the report is to inform — not to decide for — the court.

Standard reports are typically completed within [PLACEHOLDER: X] working days of the intake interview, subject to court timelines and access to collateral sources.

Fees are quoted per matter and depend on complexity, the number of collateral interviews, travel, and any court attendance required. A written quotation is provided on receipt of the brief.

Yes. I am Pretoria-based and available for matters across Gauteng, with a Johannesburg presence through mediation work at The Family Life Centre in Parkwood. I travel countrywide and to outlying court divisions by arrangement.

Yes. Where required, I attend court to present the findings and respond to questions from the bench, the prosecution, and the defence.

Reports and interviews are conducted in English or Afrikaans, as the matter requires.

Information shared during the assessment is treated confidentially and used only for the purpose of compiling the report. The report itself becomes a court document and is shared with the relevant parties.