Labeling and Discrimination Essay

Theory is the savage process. It is the mien people and actions be defined as abominable. The one definite thing that all condemnables cope is the negative fond reaction as cosmos denominate as bad. Law-abiding nightclub oftentimes shuns the offender causing them to be stigmatized and stereotyped. The negative label applied to an offender often shapes their self-image and often leads them to live up to their newfound identity by committing acts that are more criminal.Edwin Lemert described this as organism secondary deviance caused by primary deviance. The self-concept identifies two major theoretical perspectives. The first concept being that deviant labeling may subsequently influence deviance by altering a persons self-worth. The role of self-dynamics and symbolic reaction amplifies negative expectations of society. The second concept focuses on social structure aspects of extrusion of offenders by block up access to structural opportunities. Matsudo, 1992) This ultim ately becomes dissimilarity for people labeled by society as criminals. Felon is a label that is granted to ex-offenders by society that confirms the degrade status that accompanies conviction. This is labeling. An offender is discriminated against because society views them as being bad. In short, a felon is a legal outlaw and social outcast. Not all the good that a person may urinate done previously suddenly matters and society assumes that thither is nonhing but despicable traits left in this persons character. Their integrity is lost forever. cabaret assumes that felons underside non change and it becomes a struggle to be given a second chance to prove that people can, and do change, if the bequeath to do so is in that respect coupled with the tools needed to achieve a criminal offence free life are similarly. The stigma wedded to felons is so great that most opportunities for education, employment, and housing are not easy to obtain. These opportunities (tools) are o ften blocked because the offender has a criminal conviction. If society wants a lower crime rank then it seems that these opportunities should be available to individuals in this category.In methodicalness to rehabilitate individuals thither must be a federal agency for them to raise their self-image and seek out a crime free life. A sense of self-pride and acquirement for m some(prenominal) offenders could be the turning point in life needed for them. In turn, the crime rate would decrease. (Bodwitch, 1993, Freeman, 1991, Hagan, 1991, Link, 1982, Sullivan, 1989) These peoples are no less human or equal than any other except that they fix made a mistake. Our society has somehow decided it to be acceptable to treat this group of people, and there are more than two million in the United States, as outcasts, undeserving of housing, employment, or education.Society has decided that felons should not only serve the sentence given as punishment for their crime, they should be punish f or the rest of their lives. This seems very unfair and cruel. In my opinion, we as a nation should be not be discriminating against this group of people, but instead should be giving them equal opportunity to be educate so that they can obtain employment to support themselves and their families. They should have the same opportunity to live in adequate housing just as the rest of society does.This would be a step in the right direction to help increase the self- image that has been shattered by labeling and possibly deter any behavior by responding to this labeling by continued criminal activity as a means of defense, adaptation, or by attacking back at society. (Bernberg) Education is the first step to rehabilitating an offender. Many offenders do not even have a high school education. Some cannot read or write. In order to obtain gainful employment sufficient to support ones self or a family, they must have at least a basic education.If not, some form of crime will be used to co mpensate for the lack of income provided by employment. In order to be employed by any company you must have a high school diploma or a GED certificate. Denying education is a form of discrimination to suppress a group of people from gainful employment. exercise is one of the hardest things for an offender to obtain. Employment applications ask for any convictions to be amounted. If an offense is not listed on the application, it can be a reason for termination.Anyone that does choose not to disclose their convictions runs the risk of losing benefits from years of employment such as their retirement benefits and/or medical c everywhereage. More often than not, if an offense is listed on the application it will be a disqualifying factor for consideration of the position. Even if the offense does not disqualify the applicator the mere fact that there are so many people looking for work that the applier without any previous convictions will probably be placed ahead on the qualifyi ng list for employment.Most employers view a felon just as the rest of society does. They do not want a person of this character working for them because they may view them as being dishonest, or they mogul even be frightened of the felon. This practice of asking for convictions on employment applications is also a form of discrimination. It greatly reduces the possibility of gainful employment for criminals by asking for this information. The past convictions of a person does not have any bearing on whether or not they are the best qualified applicant for the position offered by a company.If any person is denied employment and has no way to support himself or his family, that person will ultimately turn to some form of crime in order to do so. The offender will adapt and live up to societies expectations of them. If this type of discrimination stops, there is a possibility that more offenders will conform to the expectations of society and rehabilitate into productive citizens, t hus, decreasing crime in our communities. Another area of discrimination for offenders is the housing market.Society does not want anyone with a criminal past living in their community among them. An offender can have a conviction that is over twenty years old and still be denied housing in many communities such as mobile home parks, apartment complexes s, private rentals, and even from some home loans. Some communities will not allow anyone with any type of criminal history to live there. A person could have had their offenses laid-off by the court and still be denied because of the accusation alone.Many of the regime programs offered to help low-income people are not available to anyone with a felony. A felon is automatically disqualified from receiving any help from government programs. Offenders often end up living in communities that are offered by slum area lords in areas that have a bigger crime rate than in other areas. This practice of discrimination could lead to offend ers falling back into committing criminal acts because other criminals surround them, thus, reinforcing a negative self-image possibly in the lead to a return to criminal activities. If society continues to accept the criminology theory it will continue to cause social fusss for both the community and the offender. Labeling is a stepping stone in the development of criminal careers. (Benrburg) This social problem ruins peoples lives and creates a pattern of recidivism. The goal of society should be to try to find slipway to decrease crime, not condone practices that will potentially increase crime. Everyone deserves a second chance in life to correct the mistakes that have made.If society was as quick to give a second chance, as it is to label and condemn someone for their mistakes, we could possibly rehabilitate a good number of offenders into productive citizens. Our nation could even possibly decrease the crime rate at the same time. None of the other practices of the criminal justice system seems to be working very well, maybe an approach of removing the barriers blocking education, employment, and housing might make a positive difference.