Labeling Theory Of Criminal Justice

The America justice system is necessary to assure the needs and rights of Americans is protected. The system is created to promise equality for all and recognize no life greater than another. However, in some aspects of the criminal justice system fall short of its initial objectives. Such as the injustice of placing children in a correction facility to be rehabilitated. The results of a child entering a correctional facility for minor crimes can be fatal; the process and experience could cause the child to become a criminal when the probability was slim. This result has been proven truthful by the Labeling Theory created by Howard Becker in 1963. The theory is based of the idea of the self-identity and behavior of a person being linked to

Young people should be given the opportunity of rehabilitation and redemption. The theory of deterrence is “predicated on the assumption that individuals weigh the costs and rewards associated with alternative actions, and select behaviors that maximize gains and minimize the cost” (Vago). The judgment and the ability to weigh the risks of a crime are not of an adult stage; therefore, there is an injustice present in the way the justice system prosecutes the youth of America. There is no reform proposed as “incarceration is used as the primary response to social problems” (NAACP).
Instead of being offered treatment, “some of 10,000 children are housed in adult jails and prisons on any given day in America” (Children). Nearly, “7,500 young people are locked up in adult jails” while approximately “2,700 young people are locked up in adult prisons” (Key Facts). The children who are placed in adult jails and prisons are fives times more likely to be assaulted while there. An unfortunate experience that could be avoided if the children received an effective intervention for the factors that led to destructive and violent behavior, such as abuse and

They hold the key to establishing a new better world because of the way they see view details, as they are. America’s youth has the freedom to be anything, go anywhere, and be the change. Therefore, the quote of former president Franklin D. Roosevelt must not be ignored. He stated, “we cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.” This is prominent in securing the future for all. However, this can only be executed if the youth are actively participating in society.
Adolescents can be rebellious, but they are willing to grow and mature. There is room for improvement in their lives with guidance. The life of an adolescent suggests that there will be opportunities to make mistakes. Mistakes are a part of life; it should not dictate rather a child is worth giving a support system to or not. All of the youths of juvenile justice settings are worth the time to be rehabilitated. Change is a possibility in youth.
In retrospect, the American Juvenile Justice System should treat children as children, provided that the youth is willing to make a change. It should also refrain from placing the youth of America into what could be considered as torture, solitary confinement. This kind of confinement can be detrimental to a youth’s physical, emotional, and psychological health; additionally, causing inevitable