Assessing Labelling Theory
Soc205: Lec#6
Labelling Theory
- 2 clip:
o Students asked what they perceive their future to be like,
o Their lives are already defined
o They talk about being the kingsmen
o Self- fulfilling prophecy: when labelled they become what people call them
Continuous labelling results in development of this master status
They internalize this master status
Even children removed from setting and placed in good setting the
labelling results in them carrying out the label
- Critics of labelling theory
o Over emphasize the importance of official labelling: yes these groups are going
about and then there is a label and they becomes deviant
o Individuals can resist labels: they do have agencies that do not fit with the label
assigned to them
o Labelling theory does not go far enough: doesn’t adequately analyze how labels
are rooted in race, class, gender. Does not sufficiently address forms of
inequality
o Tests of this theiry have produced mixed results.
- The consequences of theory policy implications
o Four policies
Decriminalization
• De-victimization of various crimes that are victimless: prostitution,
drug abuse. Should be dealt with differently not via CJS
• Turning people into deviants by labelling. Thus we reverse the
process • By criminalizing drug abuse and prostitution, we create markets
that operates illegal activity. Example: prohibition post war
•
Diversion
• How to deal with people once they have been arrested
• We can use alternative methods: such as rehabilitation
• Alternatives to imprisonment: parole and probation
Due process
• Labelling theorist have been popular for fighting for due process
for those convicted
• Those going through CJS, should have access to lawyers. Right
to attorney and right to not being searched illegally.
Deinstitutionalization
• Changes in the legal system
• 2003: youth criminal justice act. Before 2003, Canada had one of
the highest youth incarceration rate.
• Quick time in jail: 10-30 days, with no programs, they’re just sitting
in there. This short snap punishment makes no sense, we should
deal with them in the community since these issues are minor.
Majority were not brought in for serious crimes.
• They are stigmatized: everyone knows they’ve been in jail their
peers and community
• NO MORE SHORT SNAP PUNISHMENT
• They were pushing for deinstitutionalization. They advocated for
policies that reduced prison punishment. Advocated for alternative
to incarceration.
• Advocated for protection of identity of these young offenders, ther
names should not be published in newspaper and shows, this
labels them for life. Unless young offender is being charged as an
adult: serious crimes. • Files are not released until subsequent to age 18. They are not
destroyed but are protected.
Fought for these in 70’s and 80’s ^
Braithwaite’s theory of shaming and crime:
o There are different types of shaming practices: disintegrative and reintegrative
o Disintegrative:
Out casting people out of society
This leads them to be pushed into an increased life of crime. You are
denying them position in society, access to school and resources
o Reintegrative:
Bringing members back into society via restorative justice (forgiveness)
Restorative justice: provide justice to victim (closure) and also for the
offender.
Ultimate purpose is reintegrate the offender into the community
Victim-offender mediation: the vandalizer’s and the community were
brought together to come up with mediation. To come up with a
punishment that will reintegrate them: apology letter and cleanup the
park.
Another situation: young offender threw rock and broke the glass of store.
Store owner agreed to restorative justice, they came with their families.
They talked about how the teen was angered due to family issues,
offender apologizes to victim. The victim talked about how he had to close
the store down, children were traumatized (offender got to hear about the
implications of crime, they were able to understand the impac
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