ipl-logo

Labeling Theory In The Criminal Justice System

598 Words3 Pages

The labeling theory is a sociological perspective that argues that labeling individuals as criminal or deviant is not an objective process, but a social construct. This theory asserts that an individual's behavior and identity are not inherent but socially constructed. It posits that societal reactions to behavior and labeling can have a profound impact on an individual's self-concept and future behavior. This essay will describe the key points of labeling theory, provide an example of a label used in the criminal justice system, discuss the potential consequences of the label, and offer a perspective on whether the label should continue to be used.
Key Points

Labeling theory asserts that the criminal justice system labels individuals who engage in certain behaviors as criminals or deviant. These labels can become part of an individual's identity and influence their behavior, creating a self-fulfilling prophecy. Labels can stigmatize and lead to social exclusion, loss of self-esteem, and discrimination. The labeling process is not objective but shaped by social class, race, gender, and age, which can lead to unequal treatment. Labeling theory also highlights the role of power in the labeling process, with those in power having the ability to define what is criminal or deviant and apply labels. …show more content…

When an individual is labeled as criminal or deviant, it can become part of their identity, leading them to behave in ways that conform to the label. For example, an individual labeled as a "gang member" may feel compelled to engage in gang activity to live up to their label. An individual labeled as "mentally ill" may withdraw from society and refuse to seek help for fear of further stigmatization. Labels can also lead to discrimination and exclusion, making it more difficult for individuals to reintegrate into society and find

Show More
Related

Lorna's Box Theory In Ricochet River

577 Words | 3 Pages

People will see others as a specific label, like for something embarrassing they did, being labeled as someone’s girlfriend, being non-American, or something that catches people’s attention and make assumptions. This is what people in Calamus are doing because they are stereotyping others. Lorna and Wade

Read More

Summary Of Policing The Lives Of Black And Latino Boys By Victor Rios

1763 Words | 8 Pages

Rios’ findings indicate a daily, institutionalized practice of “punitive social control” aimed at “regulating deviant behavior and maintaining social order” (21). For example, because of his intimidating appearance, Tyrell was stopped all the time and checked for guns and drugs beginning at the age of 12 (42). Eventually, Tyrell began to accept this stigmatization and chose to conform to the suspicions he was constantly accused of. In response to negative behaviors, punishment was utilized as a means of controlling their behavior. Punishment was described as the process by which individuals came to feel stigmatized, outcast, shamed, defeated, or hopeless as the result of negative interactions and sanctions imposed by individuals who represent institutions of social control.

Read More

Labels In Cecelia Ahern's Flawing

483 Words | 2 Pages

Everyone needs a label of some sort. It tells who the person is in the world. In the novel Flawed by Cecelia Ahern the character Celestine experiences the label of perfect and flawed. Labels matter because labels can identify a person quickly, and they feel like they belong.

Read More

Mass Incarceration In The Age Of Colorblindness By Michelle Alexander

1006 Words | 5 Pages

The labeling effect is when somebody comes out of prison or jail, but are still seen as a criminal because they went to prison or jail. The law allows former criminals to be deny for housing or jobs on the basis that they were in prison or jail (144). This leads to people who are labeled to have a hard time getting jobs, a home, and being part of the community as they are seen as bad people (141). Since the War on Drugs puts so many poor black people in prison, we have make people with already difficult lives, lives more difficult. This could potentially lead to the person doing more crime as they may feel like they have little choice on what to do since everyone sees them as a

Read More

Labeling In Cecelia Ahern's Flawed Celestine

442 Words | 2 Pages

So, it makes sense why being labeled by society can do harm. First off, Labels are deceptive about how the person really is. For example, on the bus Celestine sees an old man coughing and struggling to breathe “All eyes are staring out the window or on him in disgust as if he's about to infect us all with his flaws” (45). This shows that just because he was flawed the only thing that mattered to everyone on the bus was what someone else labeled them as. Society has made this so normal that being “different” or “Unique” isn’t something that should be normalized, In the book people get branded for Being flawed because they don’t fit in with society.

Read More

The Power And Corruption In Cecelia Ahern's Flawed

793 Words | 4 Pages

Labels manifest how people are viewed by themselves and society. There are always two sides to a story, positive and negative. Labels are constructive because they can give one an impression of belonging to a group or community. They make it easier to categorize people based on characteristics. Contrastingly, labels can convey false expectations which can encourage stereotypes.

Read More

The Saints And The Roughnecks Summary

340 Words | 2 Pages

In the reading, “The Saints and the Roughnecks” by William J. Chambliss, the ideas of labels and their consequences are discussed. Chambliss observes two groups of high school boys (the Saints and the Roughnecks) for two years and notices how although they are both engaged in behaviors known as deviant, only the Roughnecks seem to be labeled as deviant by their community. The question Chambliss then raises is “What was the cause of this disparity?”. The answer lies in that the group was labeled as deviant due to numerous factors (i.e. social class, visibility due to lack of funds, behavior toward authority, etc.), and because of this, the community could never see them as otherwise, and the boys became a self-fulfilling prophecy. Although

Read More

The Flawed Quotes

673 Words | 3 Pages

Situations like this are shown in the book “Flawed” where these ideas of labels are taken to the extreme. Labels can matter a lot in our modern lives, they can alter how people see others, they alter how people

Read More

Convicted Felons Labeling Theory

1592 Words | 7 Pages

Convicted Felons and the Labeling Theory Paige Leary November 30, 2015 Criminology Delinquent, criminal, felon, all are labels that society give people who have been convicted of crime and therefore believed to have no respect for the law. Once an individual has been associated as someone who has no respect for the law they are often ostracized from their social groups. When a criminal has been denied by their friend groups they often begin to associate with people who are “like” them meaning that they are now associated with people who also engage in deviant behavior (Forensic Psych). All of the delinquent behavior that occurs after they have been ostracized from their original social group has been often the cause of them being

Read More

Jury Deliberation Case

618 Words | 3 Pages

33). In other words, their actions will align with the label that society has given to them. In Billy’s case, he has just attempted to kill three people, raped a woman, and robbed a bank; he has demonstrated through his actions the very definition of a psychopath. He could not possibly be committing such brutal acts, if he indeed had a conscious which most individuals suffering from psychopathy do not. Not only has society labeled Billy, but also his parents.

Read More

The Role Of Race, Class, And Isolation In Society

86 Words | 1 Pages

all this this plays a role in isolating a person from a group of people or belonging in a group of people. and this is happening in today's society, just look at students

Read More

Labelling Theory Of Crime In Blueville

1308 Words | 6 Pages

Labelling theory, which is rooted in symbolic interaction theory, holds that people in societies are given symbolic labels that they learn to identify with (Siegel & McCormick, 2020, p. 265). These labels can completely change the way in which a person sees themselves, and subsequently, others begin to only see the person through the significance of their label (Siegel & McCormick, 2020, p. 268). In relation to crime, the negative labels that criminals are given ultimately leads to the label becoming their master status, resulting in further commitment to a criminal career (Campeau, Lecture Topic 8, Video 2). As individuals become more committed to deviant lifestyles, they turn to peers who have also been stigmatized, consequently isolating themselves from conventional society and locking them into this criminal lifestyle through social exclusion (Siegel & McCormick, 2020, p. 265). The process of labelling is difficult to escape, as once society has labelled someone as criminal, it leads to a cycle of negative self-labelling, the joining of deviant subcultures, and further deviant acts, which only serve to amplify their deviant status (Campeau, Lecture Topic 8, Video

Read More

Lincoln Burrows Prison Break: Labelling Theory

2065 Words | 9 Pages

Introduction: Lincoln Burrows is a fictional character from the TV series “Prison Break” (Scheuring, 2005) who is portrayed as a death-row inmate who is wrongfully convicted of murdering the brother of the Vice President of the United States. Throughout the series, Lincoln exhibits several deviant behaviours that can be explained through various sociological theories of deviance. This paper will discuss which theory best fits Lincoln’s entrance into crime/deviance and the affect it has had on him in prison. Research: Throughout the series, Lincoln portrays many deviant behaviours but the one that I believe explains his behaviours the most is labelling theory.

Read More

Examples Of Good Labels Bad

484 Words | 2 Pages

Now not all labels are bad, but most are, that’s why labels do matter. Labels matter because they can give or take people’s power. Another reason why labels matter is because they can pave the way for how people see people, and it’s mostly based on bias. Labels matter because they can give or take someone’s power like in Flawed how the label “Judge” gave Crevan power,” I am the law. Do it!”

Read More

Ethical Beliefs And Attitudes Of Dental Care For HIV/AIDS Patients

750 Words | 3 Pages

Labelling refers to the persons’ thoughts that are often related to negative stereotyping. Social exclusion may then occur in the form of separating from the rest of the society. Discrimination takes action when someone is judged by others. The final aspect of stigma is when different forms are used to create

Read More

More about Labeling Theory In The Criminal Justice System

Related Topics

Open Document