Juvenile Rehabilitation and Identity Reconstruction: A Comparative Study of China and the United States from the Perspective of Labeling Theory
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: This study examines juvenile rehabilitation in China and the United States through the perspective of Labeling Theory. It explores how different rehabilitation approaches may influence social labelling, identity reconstruction and social reintegration among juvenile offenders. Using a comparative case study approach, the study reviews relevant policies, rehabilitation practices and previous research in both countries. The findings indicate that China's education-oriented rehabilitation model emphasises education, behavioural correction, family support and social protection, while the United States places greater emphasis on diversion and community-based rehabilitation to reduce unnecessary formal justice involvement. Despite these differences, both systems increasingly recognise the importance of family and community support in rehabilitation. The study argues that negative labelling and social rejection may reinforce deviant identities, whereas supportive interventions and opportunities for social participation can promote positive identity reconstruction and reintegration. The study therefore suggests that juvenile rehabilitation should be understood not only as behaviour correction but also as a process of identity reconstruction and social inclusion.
Author: Jiayuan Zhang
Language: English
Subfield: Law
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W7214669716