I’m studying for my Criminal Justice class and don’t understand how to answer this. Can you help me study?
How does labeling a person “criminal” lead to subsequent criminal behavior? Does research support the theory? Do you support the theory? What are some innovative policy suggestions to reduce crime based on labeling theory?
Points you may wish to discuss in your paper (these are provided to give you ideas – you do not have to address every point):
- Impact of the prison system
- Employment, housing, family, friends
- Primary and secondary deviance
- Informal sanctions having a greater labeling effect than formal sanctions from the criminal justice system
- Do you think informal sanctions have more of an impact with juveniles or adults?
- Societal reaction and criminal behavior
- Reintegrative shaming and reducing crime
- How does stigmatizing shaming increase crime?
- How would defiance theory attempt to reduce crime?
- Why is it so imperative that the police do not show preferential treatment to any group of people, according to defiance theory?
- Do you think restorative justice is more or less effective in preventing crime than traditional criminal justice responses?
Please note you may discuss any of the theories that fall under the umbrella of Labeling Theories (e.g. Defiance Theory).
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