Sociology is the attempt of sociologists to understand human socio institutions and relationships. Matters of sociology are diverse and range from family to public, crime to religion and race divisions to classes of social. When sociologists try to unify these diverse matters for creating an understandable environment of action and consciousness of the surrounding social and cultural structures, then they are studying sociology. It analyzes the significance of these diverse matters in individual lives, the community and the state. It also emphasizes the causes of social dysfunctions and the consequences, which vary from romantic love, gender individuality, and domestic discord to religious faith and unexpected behaviors. Social workers dedicate their time and lives to helping individuals with social dysfunctions to find themselves and identify better paths in life. For example, there are children who do not have family support and engage in criminal acts such as selling drugs and prostitution. These children need the experience of a social worker to help them get over their problem and identify better and decent ways to make a living (Henslin, 2010).

Sociologist dedicate their time to study human behavior to help develop better understanding and explanation to the public about the relationship between social relationships with crime and law, schools and education, poverty and wealth and social movements. When all these areas are covered, it is less complex for the global level to affect population growth and economic development (Mooney etl, 2013). This paper analyses the experience of an individual with criminal history and the law confrontation, which are fundamental factors that cause recommendable change in the characters and behaviors of many people. It highlights the main theories that address sociology in the society, families and individual lives; as well as recommended options that would best suit the process of change in the victim. According to the case study and the exhibit from the court case, Colton’s involvement with criminal activity was because of poor interactionism. His unstable childhood environment caused his poor social behaviors that led him to seek other means of making a living for himself. As a child, Colton always had the freedom to do whatever pleased him and no one would confront him whatsoever. Henslin 2010 also stated that the surrounding behavioral patterns in a child’s life determine what characters and behaviors he or she would choose to imitate in their future.

Colton was surrounded by irresponsible men who only pursued what his mother had to offer, and never bothered to look out for his interests. In addition to this, he never experienced an environment with laws to be enforced for criminal acts, and without someone to guide and discipline him whenever he did wrong. This kind of environment created a negative attitude and rebellious behavioral character in him such that he wanted to experience the lifestyle of those present during his childhood without fear of the law. In several occasions, he committed criminal offences against many people including the police until he had his last chance to change. An environment with no responsible characters caused Colton to have a hard time admitting his mistakes and embracing corrections. According to the case study, ‘Momma tried’, despite his mother’s lack of proper parental advice shows her unconditional love by helping protect his life when police chased after him. She said, “She’s going to buy a bulletproof vest for him and will make him wear it, even if he doesn’t want to. Sometimes a mother has to put her foot down”. This shows that in spite of all criminal acts he did, he still had confidence that his mother would support his wrongdoings.

In such cases of repeated burglary, individuals need to face the consequences of breaking the law for them to learn and change. On the other hand, depending on the extent of the social problem, other individuals would stand higher chances of changing their unacceptable behavioral patterns with counseling. This is because punishment in some cases only worsens the rebellious attitudes in victims rather than changes them (Elrod & Ryder, 2011). In comparison to Colton’s case, he had committed the same crime several times that it was no longer important to him whether the law was involved. This means that counseling would help him change and be a better member of the society. According to the Exhibit letter, Colton pleads with the judge to grant him another chance to prove to the society that he had changed and that he would not only stop harming people but also protect them from other criminals. He said, “ I would like to provide the court with my own account of various factors including an abbreviated personal history, insights of lessons learned, explanations of my emotional and mental state, how those crimes have affected me and my feels towards those I have wronged and what efforts I have made to make things right”. This shows that he identified his emotional and mental problem and desired to work on it. It creates a more receptive environment for any counseling program that would help ignite the desire for change in him. With a foundation of positivity towards change, he should take counseling for a period of six months. This way he will feel normal and have ample time to exercise all he does in counseling.

In conclusion, the diverse matters of sociology develop the scientific concepts of sociology and manifest functions of the law. While the law plays a key role in disciplining criminals, it also creates a policy that helps meet justice regardless of the criminal act. In the case study and exhibit, Colton has social needs that only require love and attention for him to change. This means that a second chance from the judge to make things right would encourage him to perform better because he would have the confidence that someone believes in him.

Reference List

Elrod, P. & Ryder, S. (2011). Burlington, Massachusetts: Jones & Bartlett Learning. Juvenile

Justice: A Social, Historical And Legal Perspective

Henslin, James. 2010. Social problems: A down-to-earth approach. Boston, MA: Pearson.

Mooney, Linda. Knox, David, and Caroline Schacht. 2013. Understanding social problems. 8th Edition. New York: Wadsworth/Cengage Learning.