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Running head: MEDIA AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Phase 2 IP
Melissa Hall
Colorado Technical University
CJUS600-1404B-01 Professor Norman
December 1, 2014

MEDIA AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE

A theory frequently suggested by both criminologists and media scholars postulates that
the focus of the media is on violent crime production an effective response of viewers: fear of
crime. Fearful people select instant and radical resolutions to the crime issue, making their policy
preferences become punitive and not preventative according to this theory. The proof regarding
the connection among fear of crime and patronage for punitive policies is not consistent
(Beale,n.d,) research indicates that there are mixed results regarding the influence of the news
media on creating an attitude of fear among the general public. It has been found that individuals
who watch a large amount of television are more likely to feel a greater threat from crime,
believe crime is more prevalent than statistics indicate, and take more precautions against crime.
They find that crime portrayed on television is significantly more violent, random, and
dangerous than crime in the "real" world.
The researchers argue that viewers internalize these images and develop a "mean world
view" or a scary image of reality. This view is characterized by mistrust, cynicism, alienation,
and perceptions of higher than average levels of threat of crime in society. Further studies on the

MEDIA AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE

relationship between fear and television viewing indicate a direct and strong relationship.
Presentation of large amounts of local crime news engenders increased fear among
the larger public, while the presentation of large amounts of non-local crime news
has the opposite effect by making the local viewers feel safe in comparison to other
areas. The effect of local news on fear of crime is stronger for residents in high
crime areas and those who experienced victimization.

Many viewers may not

understand the justice process and are unlikely to understand motivations and
causes of criminal behavior. The criminal justice system is portrayed as largely
ineffective, with the exception of a few "heroes" that provide justice or in some
cases vengeance towards offenders (Surette, 1998).

In terms of audience effects, fear of victimization will depend on who is viewing the
crime stories. Research indicates that residents in high crime urban areas who watch a large
amount of television are more likely to be afraid of crime. Another important factor is whether
audience members have direct victim experience or share characteristics that make them crime
vulnerable. Research indicates that media sources will be more meaningful when direct
experience is lacking.

Many families have acquired fear due to recurrent watching of the television crime
shows. They feel apprehensive and puzzled when in their homes. Since the T.V. shows interpret
the robbers and offenders armed with high tech gadgets, this interpretation affects the viewers
seriously. They have a fear about being robbed while away from home, being evolved in a
hijacked at gun point and their kids being abducted. Most think that watching violence on
television leads to more towards fear than aggression. Others believe that individuals who watch

MEDIA AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE

a large amount of television are more likely to feel a greater threat from crime, believe crime is
more prevalent than statistics indicate, and take more precautions against crime. They find that
crime portrayed on television is significantly more violent, random, and dangerous than crime in
the 'real' world. There is a growing concern that the main characteristics of our news media are
not in line with the knowledge of crime prevention. Most of the time, the processing of media
information on crime is based on short-term, fast-paced and surface level research, which can
limit the types of information disseminated, and disregard crucial issues. Often news reports of
crime read like a Police blotter of information including some data on the offender, place of
crime, and victim, with little devoted to the context of how offending or victimization occurs
(WIJESIRI,2012). In addition, the medias rapid analysis and assessment of crime trends and
outcomes of the implementation of public policies at the local level can hinder effective and
successful prevention. Crime prevention practitioners emphasize the importance of prevention
strategies which are characterized by long-term action, and based on a solid diagnosis that takes
into account the complexity of the causes of crime and their interactions. Viewed in this context,
our present news reporting of crime is not conducive to these approaches.

Number of research studies focus on whether media depictions of crime influence public
attitudes towards criminal justice policy. They find that presentations of crime news increase
public pressure for more effective policing. Different states as well as federal government, have
their own criminal laws therefore criminal trials can take place in either forum depending on
which law is violated. Criminal trials involve state laws by far most, since the Federal
government is constrained in its influence on particular types of crimes.

MEDIA AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE

However the state courts occur around ninety five percent of all the criminal trials.
Criminal justice institutions and the policies that guide them can be heavily influenced by public
attitudes. Public support for the police, courts and correctional institutions such as prisons and
parole can be influenced by many factors. Understanding the factors that influence public
perceptions could improve communication to the public and help in the development of new
criminal justice initiatives. One important factor influencing public attitudes is the fear of crime.
Governments try to respond to the publics level of fear of crime by introducing new legislative
measures that they hope will reduce levels of fear. Thus, understanding the links between fear of
crime and attitudes towards the criminal justice system has implications for legislative policy
developments.

Is there a correlation between gender, education, income, age, and perceived

neighborhood problems and police effectiveness in dealing with crime? Explain in detail. It is
also important to account for variations in the police image at any given time. It is well
documented that racial and ethnic minorities tend to have a less positive image of the police than
do whites. Elderly have a more positive view of police than youths. More highly educated and
higher income citizens also tend to be more positive. However, we do not know much about the
relative importance each group places on these qualities. Research on the factors influencing the
public image of the police typically draws on the usual suspects: age, race, sex, income and
socio-economic status, victimization history (which will be explored later), and other individual
level factors thought to influence attitudes more generally.

MEDIA AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Since in matters of policing, race is a crucial variable, we examine it apart from the others
shortly (Gallagher, Maguire, Mastrofsk, & Reisig, 2001). Race, age, gender, and SES are the
individual variables most commonly considered in research on citizen satisfaction with police.
Nonetheless, there are other scattered research findings that may be important to consider. For
instance, several researchers have found that people living in the suburbs have better attitudes
toward the police than people living in urban areas. In addition, the results indicate that white,
married, and low-income (15k to 30k) respondents are more likely to have punitive attitudes,
whereas black, college educated, and respondents with low appraisals of police effectiveness are
less likely to have punitive attitudes. The results also indicate that older respondents, males and
respondents with low perception of neighborhood problems are more likely to have low fear of
crime, whereas, younger respondents, female, Hispanic, college-educated and respondents with
low appraisals of police effectiveness are more likely to fear crime. Finally, bivariate results
suggest that Hispanic, African-American, urban, and younger respondents are more likely to
have negative or low appraisals of police effectiveness. Conversely, respondents with punitive
attitudes, with a medium income (30k to 60k), older, white, with low perceptions of
neighborhood problems are more likely to have positive or high appraisals of police
effectiveness. However, there may be a number of factors that mitigate or enhance the
relationships. Thus, it is necessary to conduct multivariate techniques to further address these
relationships.

MEDIA AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE

References
Beale, S. (n.d.). The News Media 's Influence on Criminal Justice Policy: How
Market-Driven News Promotes Punitiveness. Retrieved December 1, 2014, from
http://scholarship.law.wm.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1103&context=wmlr
Gallagher, C., Maguire, E., Mastrofsk, S., & Reisig, M. (2001, October 2). IACP The Public Image of the Police. Retrieved December 1, 2014, from
http://www.theiacp.org/The-Public-Image-of-the-Police

MEDIA AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Surette, R. 1998. Media, Crime, and Criminal Justice: Images and
Realities2nd Edition, New York: Wadsworth Publishing.
WIJESIRI, L. (2012, July 27). Crime prevention through mass media. Daily
News.