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