The social construction of crime
Interactionist Becker Becker argues that deviant is simply someone to whom the label has
been successfully applied. Deviant behaviour is simply behaviour that
people so label
This leads labelling theorists to look at how and why rules and laws get
made. They are particularly interested in the role of what Becker calls
moral entrepreneurs- these are people who lead a moral ‘crusade’ to
change the law.
However, Beckers argues that this new law has two effects:
• The creation of a new group of ‘outsiders’- outlaws or
deviants who break the new rule
• Creation of expansion of a social control agency like police,
courts etc. To enforce the rule and impose labels on offenders
Platt (1969) argues the idea of ‘Juvenile delinquency’ was originally
created as a result of a campaign by upper class Victorian moral
entrepreneurs, which aimed at protecting young people at risk.
This establishes ‘juveniles’ as a separate category of offender with
courts and enables the state to extend it’s powers beyond criminal
offences involving the young.
Becker notes that social control agencies themselves may also
campaign for a change in the law to increase their own power.
Who gets labelled? Whether a person is arrested or convicted depends on factors like:
• Their interaction with agencies of social control
• Appearance, background, and personal biography
• Situation or circumstances of the offense
Piliavin and Briar found that police decisions to arrest a young were
based on physical cues such as manner and dress, from which they
made judgements about the youth's character. Officer's decisions
were also influenced by the suspects gender, class and ethnicity as
well as time and place
Cicourel: the negotiation of Officer’s decision to arrest is influenced by their stereotypes about
justice offenders
Cicourel found that officer’s typification led them to concentrate on
certain ‘types’. This resulted in law enforcement showing a class bias,
in that working class areas and people fitted the police typification's
most closely. This led police to patrol working class areas more
intensively, resulting in more arrests.
Interactionist Becker Becker argues that deviant is simply someone to whom the label has
been successfully applied. Deviant behaviour is simply behaviour that
people so label
This leads labelling theorists to look at how and why rules and laws get
made. They are particularly interested in the role of what Becker calls
moral entrepreneurs- these are people who lead a moral ‘crusade’ to
change the law.
However, Beckers argues that this new law has two effects:
• The creation of a new group of ‘outsiders’- outlaws or
deviants who break the new rule
• Creation of expansion of a social control agency like police,
courts etc. To enforce the rule and impose labels on offenders
Platt (1969) argues the idea of ‘Juvenile delinquency’ was originally
created as a result of a campaign by upper class Victorian moral
entrepreneurs, which aimed at protecting young people at risk.
This establishes ‘juveniles’ as a separate category of offender with
courts and enables the state to extend it’s powers beyond criminal
offences involving the young.
Becker notes that social control agencies themselves may also
campaign for a change in the law to increase their own power.
Who gets labelled? Whether a person is arrested or convicted depends on factors like:
• Their interaction with agencies of social control
• Appearance, background, and personal biography
• Situation or circumstances of the offense
Piliavin and Briar found that police decisions to arrest a young were
based on physical cues such as manner and dress, from which they
made judgements about the youth's character. Officer's decisions
were also influenced by the suspects gender, class and ethnicity as
well as time and place
Cicourel: the negotiation of Officer’s decision to arrest is influenced by their stereotypes about
justice offenders
Cicourel found that officer’s typification led them to concentrate on
certain ‘types’. This resulted in law enforcement showing a class bias,
in that working class areas and people fitted the police typification's
most closely. This led police to patrol working class areas more
intensively, resulting in more arrests.
