Labeling Theory Of Juvenile Delinquency

Juvenile delinquencies are minors who have committed a crime between the ages 10-18 years of age (Juvenile Delinquents). These children have commit crimes such as stealing, robbery, car jacking, selling drugs. Status offenses are crimes commit by teens that are under age, for the crime they committed. Such crimes included alcohol, curfew violation, truancy, and buying cigarettes. Alcohol is ethanol that can be an intoxicating agent (Alcohol). Alcohol use beings in adolescence and increases in rate until it reaches peak prevalence between 18-25 years of age (Jackson, Sher, Gotham, & Wood, 2011). Thirty-five percent of teens at just 17 are found to be drinking very heavy (AIHW, 2003). Also in a study they found that 30% of male high school students
We put ourselves in cliques because of the friends we associate ourselves with. So why wouldn’t we label ourselves as being an alcoholic or enjoying alcohol too much. That’s where the labeling theory beings to explain what happens when children put labels to themselves. Now some may only be a primary deviance meaning they engage in deviance that is acceptable. While others engage in secondary deviation this is when people take their label and it becomes a part of them. If we grow up surrounded by people who drink. We ourselves enjoy drinking and it could be severe enough, to a point intoxicated all the time. Alcohol controls juveniles it is seen as a self-fulfilling prophecy. So juveniles label themselves as alcoholics or others give them that label and they accept it. Labeling is serious because juveniles live up too their labels. They find it very important to live us to their reputation. So being an alcoholic can lead to destruction of families at a young age. Getting into trouble that can hurt them and then juveniles again live to that label which leads them to continue to make choices that can get them in