Depending on where you look, the top rated shows on TV deal with crime and criminal justice. For example, this list from TV.com includes the shows Fringe, Bones, NCIS, Criminal Minds, The Mentalist, CSI: NY, CSI, and Castle all in the top 20!And Neilsen ratings, which vary by week, show that after competition type shows (Dancing with the Stars, American Idol), the top shows are crime shows, including NCIS, NCIS: Los Angeles, The Mentalist, and Body of Proof.
The point is, as demonstrated in the book, that crime is extremely popular on TV. And literally of it is unrealistic and meant not to inform but instead to entertain.
The problem is it creates major misconceptions in viewers about realities of crime and criminal justice things like:
We learn that most crime is violent in nature. False.
We learn that the most dangerous criminals are poor. False.
We learn that street crime is the most dangerous. False.
We learn that most victims are white. False.
We learn that most crimes are solved using forensics. False.
We learn that we have to rely on the law and criminal justice system to protect us. False.
And these misconceptions drive misguided and costly criminal justice policy in the real world.
So, yes, it matters.
It is quite clear that these types of forensic and crime shows are creating an extreme misconception for the people who enjoy these television shows. I know that there have been studies regarding the CSI Effect, which has influenced jurors and their thoughts on how a criminal trial should turn out. For example, many jurors believe that there should be DNA evidence and high-tech scientific evidence in every criminal case. In reality, that is not the case in most trials. The fact that jurys can be swayed on way or another based on evidence could greatly complicate how our justice system works.
ReplyDeleteTo play the devils advocate, I love movies about police figting crimes, detectives outsmarting the badguy or on the edge bounty hunters who beat the day lights out of villains. Not so much TV shows, but in the case of movies I enjoy all of the archetypal narratives. I get hopped up on violent dramatic action movies, like many guys do. But this is an escape from reality, and that is it. I cannot speak for everyone watching crime shows but for my friends and I, its entertainment. We do not expect the criminals in Boone to get together and try to terrorize everyone, only to be gunned down in a hail of one cop's bullets, heavy metal music playing in the background from an unknown location and tons of amaerican flags flying in that immediate area. Michael Bay doesn't direct reality and many people know this, but it's fun to escape sometimes. I would love to see the dramtic cop jump out of the squad car shooting, but won't hold my breath.
ReplyDeleteCrime and the criminal justice system seem to be the focus of many popular shows, with high ratings. Crime and the criminal justice system constitute the single largest subject matter. The major problem with these types programs is that they portray the criminal justice system in a matter that is so far from "real life" criminal justice. It also portrays crime in inaccurate ways. And when media influences its audience to that degree, it's important to understand the problem with the misconception that media portrays to its audience. I understand that the shows are mere entertainment, but others with no background or knowledge of the CJ system or about crime tend to start believing that is how our justice systems runs. Things are not cut and dry like the shows like to portray them as. Getting justice is long complex ordeal with lots of mitigating factors.
ReplyDeleteI love to watch shows like Lock up, Judge Judy, and other shows like that but i had Basic Law Enforcement Training and we had to ride along with Police officers and you would be amazed about how many people try to say that they saw this and that on TV.. ITS FAKE!! and on lock up they show you what they want to. Its interesting because most of us will not be a part of the CJ System and dont want to be a part of it. The closest I have ever been to prison or jail is paying a speeding ticket or driving by one on the interstate so these shows are appealing because it gives a look inside and what they go through or we think...
ReplyDeleteI guess I'm like most of these people in that I enjoy watching crime shows. (Cops for the most part) But most of the shows that make up the top of the ratings charts don't really interest me that much. I feel like half the crime shows listed above are simply small variations of each other with different characters. As far as dancing with the stars.... well, I'll just leave that one alone. I stopped watching American Idol after the 27th season, how many whitney houston's in the hiding can there possibly be anyway?
ReplyDeleteI know it gives people a misconception of crime but they are entertaining. TV networks look for shows that will get give them the most ratings. Right now shows about the criminal justice system are popular and that is what gets the ratings.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many television shows that are about crime and criminal justice. These shows are purely for entertainment. Unfortunately, the public is unaware of this and will continue to believe these misconceptions as long as these types of shows are aired. The fact that they are so prevalent also contributes to the spread of misconceptions in the public. For instance, the shows lead the public to believe that most crime is violent in nature. However, the majority of crime is committed against property. According to chapter three, property crime makes up almost 90% of all crimes known to police in a year. This is just one example of how the media misinforms the public.
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