Citation

Morris EW. J. Contemp. Crim. Justice 2010; 26(3): 254-272.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1043986210368640

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This article examines the "stop snitching" phenomenon in relation to teenagers and schooling. It shows evidence of a code against sharing information with formal authorities among students at two low-income schools: a predominately Black, urban school and a predominately White, rural school. Using Bourdieu’s concept of habitus, the analysis demonstrates how antisnitching is woven into the social fabric of these communities, prompting student ambivalence toward school-sanctioned methods of conflict resolution. The findings highlight the broad reach of the antisnitching phenomenon, situating this mentality as the result of community-based distrust of formal authority. The article assesses implications of antisnitching for school discipline and climate.