Criminaliseringsmodellen

Criminaliseringsmodellen, often translated as the criminalization model, refers to a sociological and criminological perspective that examines how certain behaviors and groups become defined as criminal. This model suggests that criminalization is not an inherent quality of an act but rather a social process shaped by power, interests, and values within a society. It focuses on who has the power to define what is considered criminal and how these definitions are applied, often disproportionately affecting marginalized or less powerful segments of the population.

Key to the criminaliseringsmodellen is the understanding that laws and their enforcement are not neutral. Instead, they reflect the dominant social order and can be used to maintain existing power structures. The model explores how moral panics, media portrayals, and political agendas can contribute to the process of labeling certain behaviors as deviant and subject to criminal sanctions. It also investigates the consequences of criminalization, including stigmatization, the creation of subcultures, and the impact on social inequality. By analyzing the social construction of crime, the criminaliseringsmodellen offers a critical lens through which to understand the origins and effects of criminal justice systems.