An application of the Measures of Criminal Activities and Attitudes Scale (MCAA) to identify learners at risk in secondary schools

Behavioural misconduct by learners in schools is very topical in South Africa. Behaviours such as intimidation, threats, taunting, violence, abuse and bullying is counter-productive to learners' constitutional rights to a safe and conducive educational milieu. Poor social adjustment, anti-social and “criminal” thinking patterns, as well as interaction with antisocial associates are significant factors associated with anti-social behaviour. The school is the most suitable social institution to prevent or reduce anti-social and offending behaviour. A restorative justice approach could serve to facilitate the process whereby young people at-risk learn from their behaviour and accept accountability for their actions. The Measures of Criminal Activities and Attitudes scale (MCAA) provides measures of anti-social attitudes and associates. This is significant in terms of intervention strategies since anti-social attitudes and associates represent dynamic criminogenic risk factors that can be responsive to change.