Crime and the Media What do Americans believe

Crime and the Media • What do Americans believe about Crime and the Justice System? • Where and how do they develop these beliefs? • What are the consequences of these beliefs?

Criminology vs. Other Science • How many “crime related” T. V. shows can you name off the top of your head? • Crime and the CJS on T. V. news or newspapers? • Crime and the CJS in movies? • How does this compare to biology, psychology, or physics?

Who Cares? • People get information about most things from television and newspapers • BUT—with regard to crime, the question becomes, “How accurately does the media reflect crime, criminals, and the criminal justice system? ”

Sources of Media Bias—or “Reasons for Skepticism” • Newspapers and T. V. news – Crime in general captures audiences – Violent crime, especially stranger violence • “If it bleeds it leads” • Politicians – “Get tough” on crime = political payoff • Entertainment – Need for “excitement” belies accurate portrayal of criminals and criminal justice system

Types of Distortion • Creation of “crime waves” • Attention to violent crime – What about “white collar crime? ” • Creating/Spreading Crime Myths – Halloween psychopaths – The Serial Killer Epidemic – Satanic Daycare

Operation of the Criminal Justice System • What is the nature of police work? How effective are police? • What is “profiling” and how many cases are solved using this technique? • What typically happens after arrest? • What are prisons like? • How often are criminals “let go” because of “loopholes” in the system?

Media and Crime: Summary • Tendency to distort reality: – Political rhetoric – If it bleeds it leads (other types of crime? ) – Overemphasis on crime (crime waves) – An “effective” criminal justice system • Why is any of this important – Dorthy and W. I. Thomas (1928), if people believe it, it is “real in its consequences. ”

Fear of Crime • Why is “fear of crime” important? • How fearful are Americans? • Are some Americans more fearful than others? – Structural Factors (size of town/city) – Individual Factors (age, race, gender)

Seriousness of Criminal Events • Why important? • General trend here is agreement across groups – But, some differences exist – What about “White Collar Crime? ”

Attitudes Towards Punishment • When polling questions are broad/general, it appears that Americans are punitive and punishment oriented: – Do you support the death penalty for convicted murderers? (75% yes) – In general, do you think the courts in this country deal too harshly or not harshly enough with criminals? (80% not harsh enough). – Consistency across race, class, other factors

BUT… • Adding complexity to the questions does affect answers – If given the option of “life without parole, ” support for the death penalty substantially decreases – Applegate, Cullen, Turner and Sundt (1996) • 3 Strikes legislation • 90% of Ohio residents supported 3 Strikes in general • Only 17% choose life in prison when given specific cases