Labeling, Life Chances, And Adult Crime
Jon Gunnar Bernburg and Marvin D. Krohn build on a body of criminology research related to labeling theory in their report entitled "Labeling, Life Chances, and Adult Crime: The Direct and Indirect Effects of Official Intervention in Adolescence on Crime in Early Adulthood." The report reflects in-depth research and statistical analysis conducted by the researchers. Specifically, Bernburg and Krohn attempt to fill in gaps in prior research by addressing three specific areas. First, the authors examine "the effect of police intervention and juvenile justice intervention on subsequent early adulthood crime," (1295). To do so they use a random sample taken from a population of adolescents. Second, Bernburg and Krohn look at "the long-term effect of official intervention during adolescence on young adult criminality," and whether "educational attainment and periods of nonemployment mediate this effect," (1295). Third, the researchers try to determine "whether the effect of official labeling on life chances and future crime...
The resulting study incorporates learning theory into the analysis and the authors do a good job of providing some background information for the reader. For example, they state "Labeling theory emphasizes the indirect effects of criminal labeling on subsequent deviant behavior" as a premise for their research hypothesis (p. ). Labeling theory therefore offers the backbone of the current study.
In the current study Bernburg and Krohn use labeling theory as a basis for inquiry into possible mediating factors of criminal labeling. They first hypothesize that educational attainment will be a mediating factor that would lessen the negative effects of criminal labeling. In fact, the results of the study do support this part of the research hypothesis. Also, the hypothesis regarding police intervention in adolescence as a determinant of early adult crime was also supported.
However, proving the research hypothesis does not necessarily make for a well-written research…
