Free State educators' perceptions of the scope of learner crime

Statements by academics and others in the media may prompt the average person to hold the perception that schools and neighbourhoods are danger zones where learner crime is rampant. However, is the situation out of control? In pursuing an answer to this problem, firstly an overview, on the basis of a crime typology, of the most important types of crime in which learners become involved is presented . Secondly, the findings of an empirical investigation of a group of Free State educators ' perceptions of the scope of learner crime and crime-related behaviour are reported. It was clear from the investigation that learners were involved, in particular, in victimless crimes such as the use of alcohol and smoking marijuana; convention al crimes such as vandalising school property, theft and less serious learner-on-learner attacks; abuse of the dignity and good name of fellow learners, in particular by swearing and making obscene signs at them; and youth-status offences. South African Journal of Education Vol.23(3) 2003: 168-17