Policy, Planning & Development Officer, Community Justice Glasgow
Life doesn’t stand still – circumstances change, people change, and labels can change over a lifetime – young, middle-aged, old, schooly, student, worker, pensioner. Some might be positive – welcome even – smart, bright, beautiful, friend, reliable – and we will be ok with them.
Of course, a leopard cannot change its spots! – but people can change their lives, their outlook, attitudes and behaviours. Although sometimes they cannot un-peal the labels that are stuck to them and this can hold them back or create barriers in moving on – away from a life that involves criminal behaviour.
Research, such as ‘The Effects of Stigma on Criminal Offenders’ functioning: A longitudinal Mediational Model’ (Moore, Stuweig & Tangney 2016) and ‘Self-stigma among Criminal Offenders: Risk and Protective Factors’ (Moore, Milam, Folk and Tangney 2017) suggest that there are significant correaltion between labelling and self-stigma – whereby negative sterotyping is internalised and believed to accurately reflect onesself. This can lead to behaviours that prevent a person from making adjustments that are in their own interest, including for instance, withdrawn or passive aggressive behaviour, poor mental health and difficulty participating in community. As well as structural barriers to, for example, employment. People’s psychological responses to stigma were shown to be important in re-integration after a custodial sentence.
(Moore, Milam, Folk and Tangney 2017), in collating the evidence set out by (LeBel, 2012; Dijker & Koomen, 2003) and (Corrigan et al., 2003). found that “offenders are considered one of the more stigmatized of marginalized populations thought to be culpable for their identity as a “criminal” and as such, may experience more discrimination or other negative consequences as a result of their identity”.
Some labels are very sticky and damaging – have you ever considered the life experiences of someone who becomes involved in criminal behaviour? You will see many articles across this Annual Reporter that provide detail and evidence around this. People will come into contact with the justice system at different points in their lives, there will be different drivers, experiences and pathways that brought them there, they will often have multiple and complex needs which will require tailored supports and pathways to more positive behaviours and destinations. They will have had different labels attached to them over this journey – perhaps loser, no hoper, junky, trouble maker – and – once a person comes into contact with the criminal justice system – particularly when the get a conviction – a new label that can stick way beyond the behaviours that brought them there – OFFENDER or CRIMINAL.
Ask yourself when is an offender or Criminal no longer an offender or Criminal? Perhaps once the sentence for the crime is complete? This is frequently not the case, as people are then labelled EX-OFFENDER.
Having had a criminal conviction, can impact a person’s life, label and stigmatise them long beyond the sentence they have served for the crimes they committed. It creates structural barrier to employment, education, travel etc. depending on how long they need to disclose under the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020. They may be trying to move on, turned their lives around BUT the label is still sticking and creating structural and phycological barriers.
Don’t take my word for it – you can CLICK ON THE VIDEO LINK below to hear it from someone who has lived it. Gerry talks about his experience of being in prison and between 5.07mins and 7:34 mins on the video talks specifically about stigma, labelling and the impact it can have.
