Criminals: Gaining Cleverness Through Crime Television

1683 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Psychological factors underlying criminal behavior

Picture this: it is a weeknight and you are watching Jeopardy or Wheel of Fortune while enjoying a delicious meal with your family. After those programs finish, it is now about eight o’clock. During late night, local channels present new or old episodes of many television shows. There is American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance, The Bachelorette, but most importantly CSI, Criminal Minds, etc. To most viewers, shows like CSI or Criminal Minds capture their attention and find them interesting. Watching the characters solve crimes by either using forensic science or studying the “behavior” of the criminal. Also observing how the crime took place and what exactly was the criminal’s motive. Of course, in reality, it does not take an hour to solve these crimes, or a few days according the shows. For many years, criminological shows entertain hundreds of viewers. My grandmother and I usually watch Criminal Minds every Wednesday night at nine. A criminal can also gain much from reading books or examining earlier killers.

Hundreds of books written throughout the years are about crime scene investigations. However, has anybody ever thought of real-life criminals that actually watch programs or read books are developing ideas on how to escape the police or how to make their crime more intense? The answer is no, but forensic shows and books coincidentally do give tips to criminals.

Hundreds across the nation watch forensic shows every day. From fictional shows similar to Criminal Minds and CSI, to nonfictional shows such as The First 48 and Forensic Files. However, these shows have something in common. Criminological programs continuously show how the crime happened, what it takes to crack the case, how investigators accumulate evidence, a...

... middle of paper ...

...SI: An Unauthorized Look Inside the Crime Labs of Las Vegas, Miami, and New York. Dallas: BenBella Books, 2006. 20-41. Print.

"Criminals turning to TV shows to cover their tracks ." Criminals Turing to TV Shows to Cover Their Tracks. Peterborough Today, 19 Mar. 2008. Web. 23 Sept. 2011.

"Forensic TV shows help criminals escape police? ." Forensic TV Shows Help Out Criminals. Bluelight, n.d. Web. 16 Sept. 2011.

"Men used 'TV murder techniques' ." BBC News. BBC News, 16 Jan. 2008. Web. 23 Sept. 2011.

Rule, Ann. The Stranger Beside Me. New York: Pocket Books, 2009. Print.

Stevens, Dennis J. Media and Criminal Justice: the CSI effect. Sadbury: Jones and Bartlett, 2011. 35-38. Print.

Sulaman, Hazimin. "Are forensics shows giving criminals ideas?." Are forensics shows giving criminals ideas? - News Straight Times Newspaper. CBS, 13 Apr. 2006. Web. 16 Sept. 2011.

Show More
Related

  • Law And Order, Criminal Minds (NCIS)

    612 Words  | 2 Pages

    Most of the nation receives their information on law enforcement from television. That’s why I knew the Maranda rights by heart before I was even 12. Law and Order, Criminal Minds, NCIS, and shows similar to this are why some even enter into the law enforcement field they want to be like the famous profilers that solve cases in one hour plus commercials.

    Read More

  • CSI Effect

    1281 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...the public opinion of government trustworthiness. Studies have not been able to clearly define if the CSI effect has had an actual influence on the outcome of trials. However surveys indicate many possible jurors believe they are more knowledgeable about criminology after watching the shows. CSI viewers may become more knowledgeable about forensic science and investigation processes but that knowledge does not affect the outcome of the criminal justice process.

    Read More

  • Mark Seltzer On Serial Killers Summary

    272 Words  | 1 Pages

    Mark Seltzer has clearly presented his concepts to reveal how the media has played part in exposing the existence of serial killers. Mark argues that some common videos that are shown on televisions have in one way or the other contributed to the increase of serial killers. Below are some of his arguments that reveal the media as part of the abnormality.

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Criminal Minds

    1486 Words  | 3 Pages

    In a world filled with criminal shows on television, it is difficult to get an accurate idea of what it truly means to be a police officer or a detective. It seems easier to absorb the analysis they present and simultaneously solve the case; however, is that truly how it works? Criminal Minds is one of the most popular shows on television today. This is due to the way it portrays the FBI in their endless search for villains unfound and rampant. Law and Order portrays the entire process of find, justifying, and incriminating offenders. Another show similar to Law and order is 24. 24 goes through an entire day in one, twenty-four episode, season. It does this in great detail to show the audience how they arrived at conclusion of who was guilty.

    Read More

  • CSI Impact On Society

    1466 Words  | 3 Pages

    This is owing to the reason that the CSI series had created a probability to generate unreasonable anticipations on behalf of the jurors, proving science as the most reliable source of evidence, as the forensic crime dramas broadcasted on the televisions simultaneously raise interest amid the viewers in the domain of forensic science (Kopacki, 2013). The crime dramas telecasted in American televisions have preserved an outstanding role for the preceding 50 years, which can be stated apparently with reference to the CSI series. These dramas shown in distinct forms certainly act as one of the fundamental techniques through which the average people can learn about the mechanism of criminal justice with rudimental details. Observably, the impacts of CSI to a law enforcement agency can be as assessed in terms of forming, developing and maintaining effective communication with the viewers and facilitating them to identify social reality (Hughes & Magers,

    Read More

  • CSI Synthesis Essay

    1312 Words  | 3 Pages

    “According to one 2006 weekly Nielsen rating, 30 million people watched CSI on one night, 70 million people watched at least one of the three CSI shows, and over 40 million watched two other forensic dramas.” (Shelton, 2008) Crime TV shows have become extremely popular, 7 of the top 10 TV shoes of 2013 where crime investigation genre shows.

    Read More

  • Crime Drama

    1310 Words  | 3 Pages

    Watching crime shows is a popular form of entertainment, and some believe that not only

    Read More

  • Forensic in Pop Culture: The CSI Effect

    1924 Words  | 4 Pages

    Roane, Kit R. “The CSI Effect: On TV, It's All slam-dunk evidence evidence and Quick

    Read More

  • How the Media Uses an Ideal Victim in Portrayals of Crime

    1988 Words  | 4 Pages

    In reference to the media’s role, they have been highlighted for playing a part in maintaining these views by portraying victims in a certain way according to the newsworthiness of each story and their selectiveness (Greer, 2007). Furthermore, there has been an increase in both fictional crime programmes and crime documentaries, with Crimewatch particularly becoming a regular part of British viewing. In the modern context, crime has continued to represent a large proportion of news reporting and with the aid of social networking sites and self-publicity via the internet, journalists are now more able to dig even deeper into the lives of people on whom they wish to report. Newspapers continue to keep the public informed with the latest headlines and the internet has also provided opportunities for members of the public to have their input in blogs.

    Read More

  • Private Investigator

    1904 Words  | 4 Pages

    Did you know that the first private investigation agency was started by a criminal? While conducting research over this particular topic I learned a lot of interesting information regarding the type of work done by private investigators, as well as the potential employment opportunities. This world is a crazy and deceptive place and it is up to us to get to the truth of everything. Becoming a private investigator will be a time consuming, potentially dangerous, yet extremely rewarding career path. (History of Private Investigations, 2013)

    Read More

  • Crime is a contested and complex concept. Discuss

    820 Words  | 2 Pages

    White, R., and Perrone, S. (2009) Crime, Criminality and Criminal Justice. Melbourne: Oxford University [Chapter 2 ‘Crime and the Media’]

    Read More

  • Media and Fear of Crime

    2029 Words  | 5 Pages

    ...it is the advent of television media that have sparked debate over the integrity of reliable news making. Print media was factual, although sometimes sensational, while electronic media made use of the technologies, such as videotapes and live footage to enhance and exaggerate the drama of the event even further. Many research studies have been conducted to show the effects of the media coverage on crime and how it influences the publics of fear of crime. Mass media has perpetuated a notion that crime is on the increase by portraying events and tragedies in the headlines that are sensational. The public buys into that idea, despite statistical accounts that reflect stable or low crime rates. The more stories people read and watch about crime, the more likely they are to think that crime is out of control. Politicians may then enact legal reforms to sooth the public’s outcry for crime control and prevention. As easy as it may be to hold the media accountable for barraging us with images and ideas that affect our views and beliefs, it important that the public take responsibility for the information that we consume. After all, there is always the “off” button on the remote control.

    Read More

  • Media Distortion of Crime Reports

    1665 Words  | 4 Pages

    Throughout society there are both individuals and groups of people with a wide range of perceptions about crime and justice. These perceptions are influenced by the media and what the media presents. Media presents crime stories in ways that selectively distort and manipulate public perception, thus creating a false picture of crime. Therefore the media provides us with perceptions and social constructions about our world. Firstly I will be discussing the role of the media in constructing knowledge about crime. I will begin by explaining why the media is important, and go further to explain that media representations construct knowledge of crime and since knowledge about crime is constructed it does not necessarily capture reality in fact crime stories are often sensationalised. I will then link this to my central argument that the media shapes people’s perceptions of crime and how this is important as it can lead to changes in the law. I will then explain what it is that the public or society needs to be aware of when reading and watching media reports about crime. We need to be aware of bias and moral panics that are created by the media and how the media shapes or influence’s public perception through this, it is important for us to be aware of misleading or false crime stories so that we are not swayed by the media in believing what they want us to believe.

    Read More

  • The Crime Drama Genre

    1675 Words  | 4 Pages

    Television has seen plenty of producers, writers and viewers attracted to crime and deviance. The crime drama series is not an unchanging structure but develops in an intricate relationship with audiences, media institutions, social contexts and other genres. Crime drama series’ structure often begins with some strains to the social order by criminal forces. Historically police officers or “cops” are good and the criminals are bad. However today we can notice “bent” cops and sometimes sympathetic villains.

    Read More

  • Forensic Science History Essay

    836 Words  | 2 Pages

    Forensic science has now been recognized as an important part of the law enforcement team to help solve crimes and cold cases. The advances in technology are being used each day and we must continue to strive to develop better advances in this field. The recent discovery of using DNA in criminal cases has helped not only positively identify the suspect, but it has helped exonerate hundreds of innocent individuals. “With new advances in police technology and computer science, crime scene investigation and forensic science will only become more precise as we head into the future.” (Roufa, 2017) Forensic science and evidence helps law enforcement officials solve crimes through the collection, preservation and analysis of evidence. By having a mobile crime laboratory, the scene gets processed quicker and more efficiently. Forensic science will only grow in the future to be a benefit for the criminal justice

    Read More

More about Criminals: Gaining Cleverness Through Crime Television

Open Document