EFFECTS OF LEGAL PROCESSING UPON A DELINQUENT'S PUBLIC IDENTITY - AN ANALYTICAL AND EMPIRICAL CRITIQUE

• NCJ Number: 48230
• Journal: Education Volume: 97 Issue: 3 Dated: (SPRING 1977) Pages: 280-289
• Author(s): D H KELLY
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 10 pages
• Grant Number(s): 025-7148A
• Sponsoring Agency: State University of New York Research Foundation
• Corporate Author: Project Innovation
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

STUDIES OF THE EFFECTS OF COURT AND POLICE CONTACTS ON THE PUBLIC IDENTITIES OF JUVENILES ARE REVIEWED, AND DATA ON THE PERCEPTIONS OF 478 HIGH SCHOOL JUNIORS AND SENIORS CONCERNING LEGAL PROCESSING STIGMATA ARE ANALYZED.

Abstract

SEVERAL STUDIES HAVE CHALLENGED THE LABELING THEORY ON THE GROUNDS THAT CONTACTS WITH THE POLICE AND/OR COURTS DO NOT APPEAR TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH A 'SPOILED' PUBLIC IMAGE. HOWEVER, RESPONSES TO A 1973 SURVEY OF STUDENTS FROM A MEDIUM-SIZED, WORKING-CLASS COMMUNITY SUGGEST THAT LEGAL PROCESSING OR PUBLIC INTERVENTION IS ASSOCIATED WITH A SPOILED PUBLIC IDENTITY. OFFICIAL DELINQUENTS (THOSE WITH COURT OR POLICE RECORDS) WERE MORE LIKELY THAN NONDELINQUENTS TO FEEL THAT OTHERS CONSIDERED THEM TO BE DELINQUENT AND THAT THEIR TEACHERS AND CLASSMATES HELD THEM IN LOW ESTEEM. THE RESULTS ALSO INDICATE THAT LEGAL PROCESSING MAY BE ASSOCIAED WITH A SPOILED PERSONAL IDENTITY. HOWEVER, THE PERCEPTIONS OF THE STUDENTS VARIED BY DELINQUENCY STATUS (SELF-REPORTED VERSUS OFFICIAL DELINQUENCY) AND BY THE SEVERITY OF OFFICIAL CASE DISPOSITION (ARREST VERSUS COURT CONTACT). THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS ARE DISCUSSED. TABULAR DATA AND A LIST OF REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--LKM)