Labelling theory

strengths

shows that the law is not a set of rules to be taken for granted

laws can change and only become meaningful when attatched to a label

shows thatr we can make positive changes to the legal system by being mindful of negative associations

shifts the focus onto how the police commit crime by applying labels based on stereotypes of criminals

selective law enforcement may explain why the working class and minority groups are over represented in the crime statistcis

explains the over-representation, shows systems can be improved to fix this

shows how attempts to control deviance can trigger more crime (e.g moral panic)

the way the police treated the hippies and the mods and rockers caused more deviance to occur

suggests that deviance can be controlled by improving law enforcement systems

weaknesses

wrongly implies that once someone is labelled, deviance is inevitable

this is deterministic

people who have been labelled may feel as though they have no choice but to be a criminal, stops them taking responsibility for their actions

places emphasis on the negative effects of labelling

gives offenders a victime status

real victims are ignored

fails to explain why people commit crime in the first place, before they are labelled

hippies studied by young were already partaking in the use of illegal substances

does not give a full explanation for criminal behaviour

does not explain where the power label comes from

focuses on officials, the police, who apply labels, rather than the capitalist class who make the rules

shifts the blame off the capitalist class to law enforcement who just enforce the law, not make it