Deviance And Delinquency

According to Cloward and Ohlin’s research, there appear to be three distinct forms of delinquent subcultures which are prevalent within lower-class communities: criminal, conflict and retreatist subculture (Cloward and Ohlin, 1960, p. 20). The criminal pattern is understood to be a subculture in which delinquent and criminal behaviour is accepted as a method of achieving success goals (p. 22). Skill and knowledge within this subculture is held in high regards as these are tools which lead to results. Material and monetary gain is the primary goal within the criminal subculture and it is acceptable to attain these goals which are deemed illegitimate by the larger society. The conflict subculture is simply about using violence and threat of violence to achieve an image of toughness and ruthlessness. This is realized through utilizing weapons and partaking in ‘beatings’ of persons and property. According to the research, this will lead to an image of a successful warrior who is not afraid to risk his life for his gang or personal attacks against him (p. 24). The authors refer to this subculture as a way of securing little resources available in underprivileged communities. Finally, the retreatist subculture seeks the effects produced by the usage of addictive drugs, alcohol, unusual sexual experiences or any activity dominant culture deems a taboo (p.

The Three Main Theories of Deviance and Their Strengths and Weaknesses A functionalist analysis of deviance looks for the source of deviance in the nature of society rather than in the biological or psychological nature of the individual. Although functionalists agree that social control mechanisms such as the police and the courts are necessary to keep deviance in check, many argue that a certain amount of deviance can contribute to the well-being of society. Durkhiem (1895) believed that: * Crime is an 'integral part of all healthy societies'.

Qualitative descriptions suggest that, for many, gang membership represents 104 Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice / May 2005an opportunity to enhance social capital as a means to cope with a multitude of problems. Although on balance gang life appears to be neither very rewarding nor satisfying (Hagedorn, 1988), identification with the gang is solidified in response to conflict—often with other gangs—as members pursue their individual and collective interests.

Using the stereotypes of the American Culture, this study by Alleyne and Wood is based on Gang Involvement in a British setting. The study examines individual, social and environmental factors that can have an impact on gang-involved youths or non-gang involved youths. In order to find which factors play a role on involved/non-involved gang youth, the authors test for measure of individual delinquency, neighborhood gangs, parental management, commitment to school, and deviant peers. To help differentiate amongst the factors, the authors use a structural equation modeling, which provided the results in a statistical measure. Based off of the results, gang-involved youths were older than non-gang involved youths and that individual delinquency and neighborhood gangs predicted higher chances of gang involvement. The other factors of parental management, commitment to school and deviant peer pressure provided an indirect relationship to gang involvement.

The life-course perspective goes into detail about the onset, persistence, and the desistance process and show that there are connections that are present, and once these connections linger, then the relinquishing of the power that gangs have over people is released. These researchers note that often times juveniles are joining particular gangs, participate, and then leave. So, when studying this process, Pyrooz & colleagues’ (2010) found that by using the conceptual framework that life-course perspective adds, we can better understand the organization and the process of how gangs work over time. This research also provided us with an understanding of the ties that members associate with their respective gangs, and just how hard it is to break those ties and let go of the gang lifestyle through the life-course. In regards to these ties, the researchers concluded that leaving a gang can be tumultuous, it is a time of confusion and possible victimization. Another significant finding was that leaving a gang is not the same process for everyone, there are diverse variables that affect individuals differently. If these variables are not taken into consideration, then the ties to the gang and the desistance process is likely to be less successful (Pyrooz & colleagues,

In my years growing up has been a whirlwind of events and fast growing to adulthood. I believe that all crime is not deviance and all deviance is not crime.. At a young age I wanted to get a move on with life I wanted to be an adult therefore I was employed with a fulltime job at fifteen years old, while still attending school fulltime. I took it a step further and was emancipated then married at fifteen years old to a man a few years older then me. Was this deviance to my family yes because I wanted to be an adult not a child? Was it a crime could have been but I believe

Even as delinquent subcultures classically are related to a wide variety of criminal activities, among delinquent groups and subcultures there is enormous disparity in the quality and force of group standards, morals, and interests. Furthermore, the degree to which delinquent activities is associated to these aspects is challenging. A large amount criminal

Why is gang affiliation such an alluring, appealing lifestyle? Admittedly, the appeal is conceivable. Watching Boyz in the Hood or listening to hip-hip may cause some to think, “I can live that life,” but thought does not turn into action while others never formulate such a thought. This raises the question, why does Monster Kody Scott, consider devout gang membership as a sole objective despite constant contingencies of incarceration and demise? To answer this question, this paper will take the social disorganization position in its review of Monster: An Autobiography of an L.A. Gang Member. In addition, this paper will use examples to show that social disorganization explains the behavior portrayed the book.

In the attachment, when children respect their parents, appreciate all that they do for them, they are less likely to be involved in criminal activity. However, when they do not have the proper guidance, lack of concern for their outside activities, they tend to stray, and seek out those who show concern for them. Often it becomes a role model, a close friend, someone to which they seek approval from. This becomes their attachment bond. In gangs, this often leads to the higher authority, a person to which they look up too, to whom they want to become. The level of commitment involves how far one will go to prove themselves. One is committed to a gang, to which they consider all members family. “People who have money, property, and good reputations are committed to the social system that allowed them the opportunities for that success (Fuller 2006).”

Juvenile Delinquency Kojo A.Dei,in his book ‘Ties That Bind: Youth and Drugs in a Black Community’, has given insight in to an important aspect and concern that faces the US in this era. Emphasizing on the black youth in America, Dei gives the relationship of the black youth with the drugs, the influences of society and the cultural influences that build those relationships. As is given Dei’s vivid presentation of the portraits of five youths—the emic point of view—reveals individual thought processes that shape behavior and attitudes. Ties That Bind is not about despised antisocial individuals whose morals are debased. Instead, it is about people who are attempting to achieve success as members of their family, their community, and the

The study at hand aimed to investigate the aspects that lead individuals to join a gang, the reasons as to why they decided to part ways with it, and the consequences that resulted from their affiliation. Through the analysis of interviews and observations, several themes were noticeable such as the initiation to the gang, desistance, consequences, and services offered to help reintegrate into society. Former gang members expressed and constantly mentioned their childhood having a major part in the decisions they made which ultimately lead to them being “jumped “into a gang. Some of the reasons this occurred so frequently among so many individuals was partly due to constant profiling, problematic relationships with many of them being at home, or the social environment they found themselves being surrounded by.

This paper will examine the factors that contribute youth to involve in criminal gangs. It aims to look at social disorganization theory as well as rational choice theory to understand youth and their involvement in gangs. Three main factors that this paper will be focusing on and studying thoroughly are the effects of parental supervision, the community the youth is raised in and peer influence. Despite many programs that are instilled to ensure that youth are helped with delinquency, there are still many influences such as parental supervision, community and peer influence that can sway youth and their decision to join a gang. Based on this discussion, this paper will argue that the ways that children are educated and raised at a young age

This paper will outline and discuss the social learning and differential association theories and how those two theories impact and influence gang and violence surrounding said gangs. Although there is no set definition of gang violence, the United States Department of Justice has defined gangs as at least three persons with a common identity either through colors, signs, physical markings or other symbols. There are different types of gangs involved in criminal activities such as street gangs, prison gangs, and outlaw motorcycle gangs. These individuals band together or act along to inflict threats, pain, suffering, injury and often time death on many innocent victims and at times each other.

Some members of delinquent gangs may be the sole carriers of a particular subculture in a particular location, and some are shared. For example conflict subcultures are shared by rival fighting gangs among whom individual and group status involves values related to defense of turf and reputation and norms loyal of these values. Some subcultures oriented to theft and other forms of property crime which they are connected with a particular group. Some property crime involves more organizing and planning in order to succeed. Other crimes such as mugging may involve only one person who shares the same subculture as the larger group. In an article by Terry William’s it states that delinquent subcultures contain elements of both youth and adult cultures. It also stated that to speak of youth culture is to symbolize a subculture of the larger adult-dominated and institutionally defined culture (1989). Many of criminal subculture shares a symbolic relationship with their customs, manly the people

In studying crimes and deviance, sociologists look to explain what types of behavior are defined as deviant as opposed to criminal, who defines deviant behaviors, why people become deviant, and how society deals with deviant behavior. Deviance is defined by sociologists are behavior that significantly goes against expected rules and norms. Criminal behavior is behavior that violates the law. Sociology studies groups as opposed to individuals, so when studying crime and deviance, sociologists are looking at the factors that influence groups as a whole to engage in crime and deviant behavior. In defining deviant behavior, the definition may vary throughout different groups. Not all groups of people will consider the same behaviors