The word stigma is used to describe a state of disgrace or shame attributed to a certain type of behavior; it is how an individual's behavior is perceived by others/society. Stigmatization often influences how an individual is treated by the community or society at large. Stigmatization may differ from place to place and change over time. Furthermore, it is considered multifaceted because it can be attributed to the victim or the perpetrator. A person's behavior can also impact stigma and perceptions. For example, wearing trousers below the waist is synonymous with negative behavior, consequently, a person who displays such a character is stigmatized and ridiculed as this is not seen simply as fashion, but as rebellious behavior. But even on a more serious basis the stigma is attached to ex-prisoners who find it difficult to reintegrate into society after serving their prison sentence. This causes life to become quite difficult due to rejection from society. Individuals who feel subject to perceived stigma usually continue with deviant behaviors. Prisoners and ex-prisoners perceived and anticipated stigma after release; may result in poor adjustment or relapse. Some types of criminals are more easily stigmatized than others, which has a direct impact on how a person may think or feel about themselves (self-esteem/self-worth). There is a large structural barrier affecting criminals as society reacts more hostilely towards more serious and deviant criminal acts, for example against sex offenders and drug dealers. Sex offenders are subject to high levels of stigma and are often limited in terms of housing, financial aid, employment, and community activities with the community. This is accentuated where there is a lack of family ties, lack of employment opportunities and social rejection/disapproval. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Criminologist John Braithwaite explains why there may be a difference in the impact of stigma. He argues that shame can be a reintegrative shame or a disintegrative shame. Reintegrative shaming occurs when the community makes an effort to reintegrate the offender into society. Regardless of whether shaming continues to occur, the effort made to reintegrate results in less deviance and recidivism and restorative justice results in less deviance. Disintegrative shame or stigmatization, on the other hand, causes a negative reaction from offenders and promotes deviance because society is too hostile towards the offender; which forces them to make friends with other criminals; this, in turn, promotes other criminals and the continuation of deviant acts. Stigmatization is also influenced by an individual's perception of how society will react towards them. Stigma has a different impact on criminal behavior because people react differently to labeling. They possess different coping skills; some may become more problematic or exacerbate maladaptive practices or may act as a deterrent for others. Active criminal research and ethical issues Theories and research form the basis of criminology. To better understand theories and hypotheses about criminal behavior, they need to be formulated, researched, and tested. The criminologist then investigates, collects and analyzes the data to reach a conclusion: research is therefore fundamental in criminology. The criminologiststhey use different methodologies when conducting research such as surveys, experiments, comparative and historical research, and qualitative research. For the purposes of active crime research, criminologists could conduct qualitative research. Criminologists have published interesting and fascinating studies on active criminals; Qualitative studies have provided important accounts or answers and greater understanding of criminal behavior than any other research method. Active offender research is research conducted on offenders who apparently continue their criminal careers. Because an individual can still be an active offender even when incarcerated, criminologists conduct research on offenders in prison, on probation or parole, or on the streets. The criminologist can observe criminals and discover causes, effects and possible solutions to deviant behavior. Observation can be overt or covert, however participation in group activities can help the criminologist gain additional knowledge. Another research methodology is intensive interviewing of offenders. By conducting interviews the researcher can observe the reactions-behaviors of the body, the gestures that can have a great impact on the study. Researchers are funded by social groups or political organizations with different interests. These studies tend to persuade the public accordingly. Criminologists, therefore, must strive to ensure inaccurate research as their opinions/findings are used as the basis for social policy. According to Siegel, some of the major ethical questions include what to study? who to study? How to study? Sociologists must consider the availability of funding, the subjects and primary objective, as well as the most appropriate research method for conducting the study. Active criminal investigations are advantageous because they tend to reveal the most current crime trends, subjects are also more likely to tell the truth, and are more likely to represent populations not subject to discriminatory law enforcement. How Media Attention Affects Criminal Law Several factors influence crime trends, some of which include the economy, availability of guns, drug use, and the media. For the purposes of this study, the focus will be on the positive and negative impact the media could have on criminal law. The media can have a positive impact on individual choices and opinions. Public perception is largely based on the attention paid to something in the media. Media attention on a particular crime can lead to greater awareness of the types of crime occurring in a particular area, citizens can, therefore, take the necessary precautions and security measures to protect themselves. In some cases, focusing on a particular crime may lead to judicial review or legal pressure to improve the system. Media attention can also highlight changes in public opinion as in the case of the Stoneman Douglas shooting and gun control, raise public awareness, and sometimes push victims to come forward or help solve cases. On the other hand, media attention can have a negative impact on criminal law as it can interfere with ongoing investigations, over-publicize a specific type of crime, cause stigmatization of a particular group, create victims or promote criminals. The media does a good job of providing information deemed valuable to the public; however, it has serious implications for the criminal justice system. Gender and crime Both males and females commit crimes; some are considered.