Summary Of Malcolm Klein's Labeling Theory

Introduction
The exaggeration of labels from societal reactions to delinquent behaviors can cause lifelong effects for juveniles (Klein, 1986). Thus, to grasp a complete understanding of deviancy in delinquents, Malcolm Klein’s article, “Labeling Theory and Delinquency Policy” studied the policy consequences of labeling theory in the US Juvenile Systems disposition of outright release, referral, referral with purchase of service and petition request. Furthermore, a key concern within the article was whether the justice system or diversion programs were effective in reducing recidivism (Klein, 1986). This critique will discuss the concepts of labeling theory and its relation to Klein’s experimental study which evaluates the disposition of offended

The article analyzes a clearly stated hypothesis that those being placed in the juvenile justice system will have an increased acceptance of their labeled criminal identity throughout and beyond the adjudication process (Klein, 1986). As a result of these stigmatized labels, the labeled individuals are expected to be exposed to a damaging societal reaction that reinforces criminality in the offenders’ self-identities and provokes the continuation of delinquent behaviors (Klein, 1986). Hence, the independent variable of the disposition of petition requests increases the dependent variable of the number of offenses. This increase in the dependent variable was measured by the number of re-arrests and non-re-arrests, with a primary focus on those

In an in-depth review of the four dispositions, Klein’s (1986) study shows that at the end of 6 months, 36% of all offenders were rearrested. Klein notes during his study that the greater the stigmatization the greater chance of rearrest. This proves to be true, as after 15 months 50% of the total offenders in the four dispositions have been rearrested, and after 27 months 60% of the total offenders have been rearrested, except for petitioned offenders, where 75% were rearrested. However, less than 50% of those juveniles who were outright released were not rearrested (Klein, 1986). Consequently, juveniles who were outright released benefited from not receiving societal reactions that would change their self-perception from labels, unlike that of the other two independent variables of Juvenile Justice and the social service system. As inferred in the hypotheses, when juveniles are placed into the juvenile justice system they begin to relate to the labels given to them and begin to believe they are the criminals that they are labeled. The cause and effect of this relation and belief equate to increased re-offenders, which supports the overall analysis of the labeling