NCJ Number
218741
Journal
Criminal Justice and Behavior: An International Journal Volume: 34 Issue: 6 Dated: June 2007 Pages: 816-829
Date Published
June 2007
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This study examined the relationships between juvenile offenders’ justifications for delinquent behavior, their perceptions of being labeled “delinquent,” and their criminal history.
Abstract
Results indicated that slightly over half the sample (almost 54 percent) did not agree with the item, “Most people think I am a delinquent.” However, a third of the offenders thought that others labeled them as “delinquents.” They were also more likely to report that most other people did not think of them as “good” people, that they did many bad things, and that they associated with lawbreakers. Consistent with labeling theory and other previous research, those youths who perceived others labeled them as delinquents reported more severe delinquency, defiant behavior, and generalized anger and violence against others compared with young offenders who did not perceive the label of delinquent. The findings, when coupled with previous research in this area, suggest that young offenders who perceived being labeled delinquent but are satisfied with themselves, perhaps through the use of self-justifications, could be resistant to rehabilitation. Future research should explore in more depth the justifications that young offenders use to justify their behavior to themselves, rather than to others. Participants were 153 juvenile offenders serving community-based supervision with the New South Wales Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) in Australia. Participants completed a questionnaire that measured their use of justifications for offending and their perceptions of being labeled a delinquent. Data were analyzed using exploratory factor analysis, descriptive statistics, and stepwise discriminant analysis. Tables, references