Influence Of Crime And Crime

773 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: roles of forensic science in criminal investigations

The media is a dominating aspect of American culture. The way the media depicts crime and criminal behavior has an affect on the way society views crime and criminals. Television series such as CSI, NCIS, Law and Order, Criminal Minds and countless others, have become very popular in our society today showing that our culture has an immense interest in crime. It is clear that there is a fascination with criminals and why they do the things they do. To analyze the way crime dramas represent crime and criminal behavior, I completed a content analysis of one episode of Criminal Minds. The episode I chose was season one; episode eight, which first aired in 2005, titled ‘Natural Born Killer’.
The episode begins with two men, Jimmy (who is an undercover …show more content…

Two bodies, a male and a female, were found. They believe that the female was killed quickly and the male was brutally tortured. Mandy, one of the BAU agents, finds blood stains in the bathtub, which he believes is an important indication that there must have been a third victim. This leads them to think about the characteristics of torture killers versus the characteristics of organized/disorganized killers. The team analyzes what the torture can tell them about the case. Reid, another agent, points out that there are two types of torture, functional or sadistic. They decide the torture is not sadistic because sadistic torture usually involves some form of sexual assault and the two corpses that they have found show no signs of being sexually assaulted. Greg, an older agent, points out that they still do not have the missing third corpse, so the killer could have sexually assaulted the third victim before dismembering the corpse. Later that night, the third victim was found in a dumpster, and it turned out to be …show more content…

The team assumes gang violence may have been involved after they discover that Freddy worked in a scrap metal yard owned by a well known gang leader, Ali. They decide to go talk to Freddy’s boss at the scrap metal yard. Although they do not get a lot of information from Ali, they decide to listen in on his phone calls in hopes that he will call the killer. Their plan works when Ali contacts the killer and identifies him as ‘Vinny’. They are identify the killer quickly, but find that he’s been living off the grid since he became an

Show More
Related

  • Earl Conrad Marblett Case Study

    2043 Words  | 5 Pages

    An empty fuel container lay overturned nearby. As the investigators moved upstairs they encountered what looked to be patches of hair on the staircase. In the children’s room shared by both Winter and Anah, they discovered both sisters dead in their beds. They were shot to death with a small caliber weapon. In the master bedroom lay Blaine’s body. He was on the bed with a gunshot wound to the head. A .22 caliber revolver was located on the floor next to the bed. So far, the manner of death along with the physical evidence present, point the investigators at Blane being responsible for the murders as well as the fire. This is further corroborated with a look into Blaine Hodge’s

    Read More

  • The Media's Representation of Dexter, the Ethical Serial Killer

    1527 Words  | 4 Pages

    Dexter, the ethical serial killer, appears once more on our screens running its fourth season of sensation on our screens. Changing the definition of scary serial killers as previously connoted in the media. But does Dexter represent a discourse on our understanding of serial killers? This essay is a discourse analysis which explores how the television show Dexter changed the representation of serial killers on prime-time television and the discourse of the ideological functions of serial killers. It will compare and contrast the differences in which the identities of Dexter Morgan and the Trinity Killer are represented in the media.

    Read More

  • The Negative Impact of the CSI Franchise

    1812 Words  | 4 Pages

    With a record of an average 119 television channels available to each household, television dominates American life (MediaBuyerPlanner). This wide assortment of television gives viewers many different realities to imitate, like a small child following and obeying its parent. One of the leading television shows in our society is the CSI franchise, with three different extensions. CSI, and shows similar to it, portray the criminal justice system in a negative light, which causes confusion between reality and fiction. Television is a means of entertainment, yet its influence on today’s generation is powerful and enchanting. Television shows centered on criminal justice are implausible portrayals of reality that create unrealistic expectations of evidence in the courtroom, as well as creating superfluous fear of murder for the viewers.

    Read More

  • Factor Affecting the Presence of Crime in Inner Cities of America

    796 Words  | 2 Pages

    The presence of crime in the inner cities of America is the result of many different factors. Although it is impossible to explain the issue with one single theory, it is possible to recognize the characteristics within society that have traditionally been associated with crime. These include poor neighborhoods, weak family structures and high rates of unemployment. However, they cannot be used to explain overarching mechanisms of extremely high rates of American urban crime today. Social structures as well as cultural conditions play strong explanatory roles in describing the causes of crime in American cities. Some prominent social structural theories include social disorganization theory, strain theory, and cultural deviance theory.

    Read More

  • Causation of Crime

    1043 Words  | 3 Pages

    Two of the major criminological theories of the twentieth century are Merton’s strain/anomie theory and Shaw and McKay’s social disorganization. Both theories were very important in their time, and still influence theorization today. This paper will discuss both theories and point out similarities and differences.

    Read More

  • The Bone Collector

    1238 Words  | 3 Pages

    Given the clues left by the scene, Rhyme figures where the captive, known as T.J Colfax, is. He sends Sachs over to the scene before T.J meets her fate. But by the time she arrives, it is too late. Colfax is found boiled to death by hot steam blown in her face. Through this horrific ordeal, Rhyme, as tranquil as ever, makes Sachs do her first Crime Scene Investigation. She finds more clues left by the bone collector.

    Read More

  • Criminal Justice Myths and Facts

    1352 Words  | 3 Pages

    The media plays a huge role in forming people's perceptions of crime. Without the media we would remain ignorant to occurrences outside our direct social groups. The media and especially news coverage therefore provides us with an important point of contact with the rest of society. In evaluating its effect on popular perceptions of crime it becomes important to consider where most of the information comes from and how representative it is on actual criminality. If it takes "facts" (the truth, the actual event, a real thing) or if it is heightened to a crime myth. With a myth being based upon "exaggeration" or heightening of "ordinary" events in life. Crime myths become a convenient mortar to fill gaps in knowledge and to provide answers to question social science either cannot answer or has failed to address. Myths tend to provide the necessary information for the construction of a "social reality of crime (Quinney, 1970)." As crime related issues are debated and re debated, shaped and reshaped in public forms, they become distorted into myth, as largely seen in the mass media.

    Read More

  • Crime Myths As A Crime Myth

    782 Words  | 2 Pages

    “Crime myths are powerful constructions of reality because they speak to our personal values and beliefs and are steeped in rich symbolism, which reinforces those values and belief.” (Kappeler & Potter, 2004) Crime myths are created when a series of fictional events that are later altered so that they become social and political problems. The media plays a major role in the creation of crime myths they broadcast images and videos to go along with the crime myths, they also use social context that play on humans thought on the community seeing it as unsafe. Myths also contain some measure of economic conditions that then cause reactions by politicians to create new laws to prevent these myths from becoming major problems in the criminal justice system. (K&P, 2004) In order for a statement to be characterized as a crime myth, if the crimes instill fear and threaten the vast majority of society. (K&P,2004) Crime myths are made up of components that targets and identify of a distinct deviant population, they involve innocent and helpless victims, the emergence of brave and virtuous hearos ,comes as a threat to peoples established norms, values, or traditional lifestyles.

    Read More

  • Essay On Crime And Crime

    1786 Words  | 4 Pages

    The media is a dominating aspect of American culture. The way the media depicts crime and criminal behavior has an effect on the way society views crime and criminals. Television series such as CSI, NCIS, Law and Order, Criminal Minds and countless others, have become very popular in our society today showing that our culture has an immense interest in crime. It is clear that there is a fascination with criminals and why they do the things they do. To analyze the way crime dramas represent crime and criminal behavior, I completed a content analysis of one episode of Criminal Minds. The episode I chose was season one; episode eight, which first aired in 2005, titled ‘Natural Born Killer’.

    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

  • Analyzing The Media's Perceptions Of Forensic Psychology

    1524 Words  | 4 Pages

    Media portrayal of crime and criminal justice has become incredibly widespread in the last decade, with crime often considered both a source of news and entertainment. As a source of entertainment, crime and criminal justice have emerged as central themes across various sources of media. Most individuals do not have any direct experience with the criminal justice system, so their only source of information on this topic is the media. Particularly in television shows, portrayals of crime and criminal justice can be seen in everything from courtroom dramas to nightly news programs. Indeed, the popularity of crime shows has lead to some of television’s most enduring series, such as Law and Order and CSI. Because of this, fictional

    Read More

  • Crime In The Media Analysis

    857 Words  | 2 Pages

    The media, both in the mainstream and alternative sources, determine how the community view crime and how it represents the victims of crime, criminals and law enforcement officials. Media organisations have arguably become the main source of news, entertainment, recreation, and product information in society. For many people, media outlets such as newspapers, magazines, social media and television broadcasts informs viewers about events that affect their everyday lives. This essay it will explore the many variations of how crime is mispresented to society through mass media organisations.

    Read More

  • Crime and Social Inequality

    1188 Words  | 3 Pages

    Crime and criminalization are dependent on social inequality Social inequality there are four major forms of inequality, class gender race and age, all of which influence crime. In looking at social classes and relationship to crime, studies have shown that citizens of the lower class are more likely to commit crimes of property and violence than upper-class citizens: who generally commit political and economic crimes. In 2007 the National Crime Victimization Survey showed that families with an income of $15000 or less had a greater chance of being victimized; recalling that lower classes commit a majority of those crimes. We can conclude that crime generally happens within classes.

    Read More

  • Media and Fear of Crime

    2029 Words  | 5 Pages

    One might turn on any evening news broadcast these days and be bombarded with images of war, violence and stories of unsuspecting citizens victimized in their own communities. Is crime on the increase or is it just media hype? There are countless television shows with plots dedicated to the depiction of criminal activities fouled by law enforcement agencies with the helping hand of the law. Newspaper headlines scream out daily in bold print and action photos of the latest tragedies. Should the public be fearful of what the television conveys to us, be cautious of whatever new crime wave is presented on the media? These questions may lead one to wonder if the depiction of crime in the mass media affects the public’s perception of safety and danger in society.

    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

More about Influence Of Crime And Crime

Open Document