Abstract
Under the influence of labelling theory, juvenile justice policy has tended to emphasise the importance of diverting young offenders away from court. This emphasis has been reinforced by recent claims that community-based restorative sanctions, such as Community Aid Panels (CAPs) and Family Group Conferences (FGCs), are more effective in reducing juvenile recidivism than sending young offenders to court. This article critically reviews the labelling theory thesis that formal processing of juvenile offenders is inherently criminogenic. Having concluded that the thesis lacks empirical support, it then goes on to argue that strategies designed to reduce juvenile recidivism are more appropriately targeted at repeat offenders rather than those with no or little prior criminal record.
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