Using the Anomie theory explain why highschool dropouts are more likely to be involved in criminal behavior

Delinquency have been explained in different perspectives , but one that offers a clear understanding of how high school drop-outs become delinquent is the anomie theory . This theory provides a framework for which delinquency is examined in terms of how society limits the ability of certain groups of people to achieve their goals legitimately . The anomie theory posits that the societal structures hinder people who do not fit in . Therefore , these individuals are pushed into finding ways in which they could achieve their goals albeit through illegal means or those unacceptable to society

p The Bureau of Justice Statistics (2003 ) reports that most of incarcerated inmates are high school drop-outs , and that majority of those in prison have less than a high school education . This tells us that there is a high probability that individuals who did not graduate from high school are more likely to be imprisoned for criminal behavior and delinquency . In the same way , this leads to the question of what is in having a high school diploma that may lessen the chances of committing crimes or becoming delinquent . According to the anomie theory , groups who fail to measure to the required social structures and values are deprived of the legitimate means to achieve their goals

The report on the educational attainment of prisoners (Harlow , 2003 reveals that most of them did not finish high school . The implications of which is that being a high school drop-out is a disadvantage , the inability to have a high school diploma immediately categorizes the individual as becoming a social liability , since they are more likely to end up in jail . A person needs to work in to provide for their subsistence or their family , but our society demands that those who work full-time and with benefits must at least be a high school graduate This would mean that high school drop-outs are denied the right to work legitimately because they did not complete high school . Consequently high school drop-outs are driven to engage in illegal activities just to earn their living , which is why some end up as muggers , drug peddlers pimps , prostitutes , robbers and a lot more . And engaging in illegal activities would lead to more delinquent and criminal behavior like drug addiction , violence , rape , murder etc . Another example is when high-school drop outs are labeled as delinquents because they did not finish high school , and it is almost as if society is expecting them to behave defiantly and to have a complete disregard for rules because they are high school drop-outs and therefore delinquent

The Bureau of Justice report also revealed that the academic and behavioral problems was cited more often than being caught or sent to correctional facilities , thus indicating that those who drop-out of high school are not really delinquent to begin with but becomes one because society does not give them the opportunity to become functional members of society . According to anomie theory , society pressures them to fill the role of delinquents because society believes that those who fail to complete high school are lazy , less intelligent , comes from a dysfunctional family , and have problem behaviors when in some cases dropping out of high school can be caused by a difficult but normal adolescent developmental stage . The anomie theory further says , that when a person is denied the opportunity to become contributing and functioning members of society , they will eventually resort to criminal behavior or become delinquents because they have no other option

Reference

Harlow , C . W (2003 . Education and correctional populations . Bureau of Justice Statistics

Special Report . Washington , DC : U .S . Department of Justice ...