Labelling Theory

• • By labelling someone criminal, they act in accordance with this
  • Decriminalisation- Reducing certain offences to be non-criminal so as not to label people as such
  • Diversion- Trying to avoid court process which label someone as criminal
  • Reintegrative Shaming- where the crime is labelled as bad rather than the person to avoid stigma (e.g. they DID bad not they ARE bad)
  • Disintegrative Shaming- where the criminal and crime are labelled as bad as such excluded from society
• Effectiveness:

  • Evidence shows that this policy can help manage and control minor offences and deviances, especially with young offenders.
  • By trying to avoid labelling people at a young age they are less likely to grow up acting in a criminal manor.