NCJ Number
16193
Journal
Social Forces Volume: 53 Issue: 1 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1974) Pages: 83-91
Date Published
1974
Length
9 pages
Annotation
INDICATES THAT STATISTICAL ANALYSIS FAILED TO DEMONSTRATE SELECTIVE BIAS IN OFFENDER DISPOSITIONS, BUT A SIGNIFICANT, DIRECT RELATIONSHIP IS OBSERVED BETWEEN OFFICIAL LABELING AND RECIDIVISM.
Abstract
IN THIS STUDY HYPOTHESES REGARDING SELECTIVE BIAS ON THE PART OF OFFICIAL DECISION-MAKERS AND THE INDEPENDENT EFFECT OF SOCIAL CONTROL UPON DELINQUENCY RECIDIVISM ARE TESTED. ALTHOUGH SELECTIVE BIAS WAS NOT DEMONSTRATED, THE FORMAL HEARING PROCESS IN ITSELF WAS SHOWN TO HAVE A STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT, DIRECT RELATIONSHIP TO RECIDIVISM. THE DATA, HOWEVER, ARE CONSIDERED INSUFFICIENT FOR TESTING THE BASIC PROPOSITIONS OF LABELING THEORY. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT RESEARCH EFFORTS BE FOCUSED ON THE SUBJECTIVE STAGE OF BOTH SOCIETAL AND INDIVIDUAL RESPONSE WITHIN THE LABELING PROCESS, USING ATTITUDE AND PERCEPTUAL SURVEYS AND ANALYTIC INDUCTION WHICH INTEGRATES OBJECTIVE HISTORICAL AND SITUATIONAL VARIABLES AND SUBJECTIVE DATA.