Amish Life: Southern Rural Sociology
SOUT H ERN RURAL SOCIOLOGY, 23(2), 2008, pp. 226-251 Copyright © by the Southern Rural Sociological Association
AMISH VICTIMIZATION AND OFFENDING: A RURAL SUBCULTURE 'S EXPERIENCES AND RESPONSES TO CRIME AND JUSTICE* BRYAN D. BYERS
BALL STATE UNIVERSITY ABSTRACT This article addresses several areas as applied to the rural subculture of the Amish. First, the Old Order Amish will be introduced to the reader. Distinctions will be made between the Old Order Amish and other, cousin, groups. Second, discussion will center on the victimization of Old Order Amish. Several illustrations will be offered along with theories that attempt to explain these phenomena. Third, attention will be given to offending and deviant behavior among the Old Order Amish. Particular focus is placed on Amish youth. Fourth, discussion will turn to the restorative justice model as an effective manner of dealing with criminal justice matters and the Old Order Amish in rural settlements. This model, it will be argued, is ideal for the Old Order Amish based on several subcultural factors. Fifth, and finally, the author will provide some potentially fruitful directions for future research on Old Order Amish social and justice issues.
The Amish have long been a curiosity among many, often called the “peculiar people.” Superficially, such curiosity stems from their unique subcultural ways including one of their main differences–costume. There are many other differences, however, which distinguish the Amish from the larger culture and society of the United States. While costume is a superficial means of understanding the Amish, dress is indicative and symbolic of many other more deeply rooted differences. Social differences, coupled with contact between Amish and non-Amish (“English”) can lead to interesting, and sometimes tragic, encounters. THE OLD ORDER AMISH IN AMERICAN SOCIETY A Brief History Many believe they know who the Amish are as a group, yet few people know their history and the
AMISH VICTIMIZATION AND OFFENDING: A RURAL SUBCULTURE 'S EXPERIENCES AND RESPONSES TO CRIME AND JUSTICE* BRYAN D. BYERS
BALL STATE UNIVERSITY ABSTRACT This article addresses several areas as applied to the rural subculture of the Amish. First, the Old Order Amish will be introduced to the reader. Distinctions will be made between the Old Order Amish and other, cousin, groups. Second, discussion will center on the victimization of Old Order Amish. Several illustrations will be offered along with theories that attempt to explain these phenomena. Third, attention will be given to offending and deviant behavior among the Old Order Amish. Particular focus is placed on Amish youth. Fourth, discussion will turn to the restorative justice model as an effective manner of dealing with criminal justice matters and the Old Order Amish in rural settlements. This model, it will be argued, is ideal for the Old Order Amish based on several subcultural factors. Fifth, and finally, the author will provide some potentially fruitful directions for future research on Old Order Amish social and justice issues.
The Amish have long been a curiosity among many, often called the “peculiar people.” Superficially, such curiosity stems from their unique subcultural ways including one of their main differences–costume. There are many other differences, however, which distinguish the Amish from the larger culture and society of the United States. While costume is a superficial means of understanding the Amish, dress is indicative and symbolic of many other more deeply rooted differences. Social differences, coupled with contact between Amish and non-Amish (“English”) can lead to interesting, and sometimes tragic, encounters. THE OLD ORDER AMISH IN AMERICAN SOCIETY A Brief History Many believe they know who the Amish are as a group, yet few people know their history and the
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