Labeling Theory

++A theory that involves deviance that can help reduce crime rate is the Labeling Theory. Aaron Cicourel, in his 1976 study, illustrates the labeling theory by investigating the relationship between the Californian police officers and the people whom they were more likely to arrest. Cicourel found that the police were more likely to arrest a group of people that fit the criteria of poor education, poor social status, and minority members. The police would interact with this group of people, that were suited to this list, more harshly than middle-class offenders, who were warned and then let go. The unequal treatment of the people within the society show how the view of specific acts affects their place, however, realists argue that interactionists
dismiss that crime is a problem and their viewpoint offers no real solution to the problem. The negation of justice has been to just point out the problem, which is a spiral of assuming the criteria of acts are deviant, arresting the assumed who act as such, and the arresting rate supporting the typification of these acts. Another example of the labeling theory is a research project done by sociologist William Chambliss, in 1970, that involved a group of boys, the middle class Saints and the lower class roughnecks, that showed the effect of societal views. The way the society treats the boys greatly influenced the children's outcome; even if both groups participated in the same primary deviant activity; the Saints were given fewer consequences than the Roughnecks, as they were considered to be good overall (Chambliss). Chambliss concluded that the children's social class reflected how they were placed and treated within society, which later influenced their choice to participate in deviant behavior.
++The answers to this solution of reducing crime rates and the negative association with police officers, lies in the hands of the police officers.
Higher government should reinforce the law that says to treat all classes equally. The United States Constitutions has laws that require a fair hearing for the perpetrator, and protects them from questions that can be used against them (Vinson). This technique is quite often used in place of a confession by police officers who ask, “Do you know why I pulled you over?” Police officers should train in new techniques and social programs that ensure that whoever they're pulling over and arresting isn't due to their label on social status and financial background. A new law should be passed in certain parts of the United States that has the most injustice within the community. This education program teaches the police officers their rights as well as the rights that the community has over them. Teaching the technique to both parties is a way to be definite that no one in this situation gets discriminated against. The lack of labeling anyone that fits the criteria of poor education, poor social status, and minority members will culminate respect between the enforcers and the
imposed.
++Charles Lemert, in relation to the labeling theory, states that being referred to as a deviant can negatively affect the individual’s future opportunities, such as their job, relationships, and other social opportunities (Herman).
This is where the theory takes places in the United States prison systems. Labeling people on their sex, race, and financial background may also affect the time spent in prison for their crimes. This can be achieved by a better judgment and a heavier investigation. When comparing the sentence given to robbery from the United States, other countries range from five to seven months, while the United States, striking longer than the two countries, totals in around twelve months (Liptak). By reducing the sentences given to people for nonviolent crimes, we are able to keep the perpetrators in prison just enough to pay their dues, but not to the most maximum effect. Many criminologists and legal experts have backed up the incarceration rates, claiming that the United states have a more brutal and harsher crime rate, which meets up with the harsher sentences. This is proven evident by Michel H. Tonry, who states that criminal sentences are now “vastly harsher than in any other country to which the United States would ordinarily be compared.” However, reducing labeling of people with different races, and the involvement of better judgment, may also reduce the discrimination between social class and race. In addition, the reduction of discrimination
between the impoverished and the decrease in sentence for nonviolent crimes will lower the cost of prison systems from $74 billion (Kincade). Laws should be created that show the maximum number of years a person can stay in prison for nonviolent crimes, so that they can be taught a lesson yet also free up space within the prison walls. These changes to the systems of policing, the court, and general corrections is a way to ensure that the unequal treatment of the community within the United Stated is lessened.