CCJS350 Chapter 9 Labeling Theory Labeling theory focuses on the reaction to delinquency Official reaction by criminal justice system Informal reaction by family peers etc Those who are delinquent viewed as bad Leads to rejection Leads to more delinquency Background 5 major questions Why are certain acts defined as delinquent How do others react to delinquency What impact does the reaction have as further delinquency Why are some juveniles more likely to experience the rejecting Are some juveniles more likely to respond to rejection with further reaction delinquency How others react to the Juvenile s Delinquency Harsh rejecting reaction Delinquent acts label the juvenile as bad Leads to further delinquency Police are likely to have this reaction official reaction Parents become too strict or throw them out of the house informal reaction Failure to respond to the juvenile s delinquency Some delinquency goes unknown leads to further delinquency Could be ignored or subject to mild sanctions Radical non intervention o Best way to reduce delinquency is to do as little as possible o Most kids grow out of delinquency so they shouldn t be labeled o Theorists are moving away from this position Condemn the delinquency but accept the juvenile s reaction Sanctions should emphasize how act was morally wrong No rejection close ties with parents and teachers should be maintained Restorative Justice police courts make offenders aware of the harm they have caused and having them repair it o Conference between offender victim family and community representative Why Rejection Leads to Further Delinquency Reduces Control Direct control Reduces stake in conformity Emotional ties beliefs are weakened Increases Strain Others make it difficult for juvenile to achieve goals no job no money Loss of positive stimuli presentation of negative stimuli Increases level of irritability increases sensitivity to strain Increases Social learning of delinquency More likely to associate with delinquents Develop beliefs more favorable to delinquency Creates a delinquent self concept The way we view ourselves is a function of how society views us If people think you re bad then you will think so too What determines who will experience rejection Depends whether juveniles engage in delinquency that becomes known to others Especially common with serious offenders Socio demographics Low class lack connections to convince others they re not bad Minorities fit the stereotype Evidence of Labeling Theory Ideal Test 3 groups Harsh rejecting reaction Failure to respond Condemn but accept Tough to recreate ideal test Many arrested juveniles do not face harsh rejecting reaction Cannot assume non arrested juveniles experience condemn but accept approach Must develop better measures of three major ways of reacting to delinquency
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