Media Distorts Crime

Media has become one of the primary sources of information when it comes to crime in modern western societies. Although the media worldwide is known to both enhance and distort the public knowledge about crime. Through various ways the media informs the public about the crime rates and crime reports that are currently happening. By distorting crime that is currently occurring, the media has been known to over report on more serious criminal offences and constantly report on crime rates increasing. The following essay provides information on how the media enhances and distorts crime. The following topics will be discussed to provide evidence to prove the media distorts and enhances crime: how crime is defined and measured, the different dimensions

Victimisation surveys do prove useful in finding victims of a range of different offences but provide less information on ‘victimless crimes’ such as drug use or prostitution (Hayes, Makkai 2015, p56). A significant weakness to the victimisation surveys is that the date within them only include crimes have been recorded by police. Another flaw is that this method of surveying often shows a higher percentage of mother vehicle thefts, break ins or robberies. The reason for this revolves around the victim needing evidence for insurance claims (Hayes, Makkai 2015, p46). Other ways in which criminologists measure crime include quantitative surveys and intense qualitative field studies (Hayes, Makkai 2015,

Race is another key variable within the characteristics. While race is not as disproportionate in Australia compared to the United States, there is still a current trend. Hayes and Prenzler (2015, p88) provide evidence to support the proportions when considering race. The Indigenous people within Australia make up an approximated two percent within the entire population. Within the two percent the life expectancy is lower, unemployment rate is higher, the homicide rate is 5 times higher and Indigenous people are twelve times more likely to be imprisoned compared to non-Indigenous (Hayes and Prenzler, 2015, p88). The place of where crime events occur are different to what is expected. Over sixty seven percent of sexual assaults and over sixty five percent of murders occurred in a residential location (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2010 cited in Hayes, Prenzler, 2015). Offenders can be assumed to repetitively engage in crime at a consistent rate. Within Australia nearly sixty percent of all adult prisoners, had been to prison before (Hayes, Prenzler, 2015, p93). With repeat victimisation within physical assault, just over twenty seven percent of victims have reported three or more incidents. In break ins or malicious property damage, only five to just under nine percent of victims have