In the article "the saints and the roughnecks", both groups of boys engaged in similar levels of objectively deviant actions, but only the roughnecks were classified and sanctioned as deviants by teachers and police.
what explains the variation in how the two groups were treated?

Labeling Theory

Explanation:

The labeling theory suggests that certain types of behavior in individuals are as a result of to terms used to describe or classify those individuals.

according William Chambliss who carried out the Saints and Roughnecks study, labeling an individual as a deviant by authorities is sometimes tied to their social status. Society turns a blind eye to a teenage who does sometime wrong if he is from a well to do family and is fast to label another from a rough background a deviant even though the offences are the same

answer; negative punishment;

your answer is "graduates" hope this