in the Media

Crime in the MediaA case study on television shows

What is the purpose of the show?

Dexter works for the Miami Metro PD as a blood spatter analyst

He is a devoted father, brother, husband, and friend

In his spare time, he enjoys golfing, boating, fishing, and killing people

Dexter is a serial killer who targets criminals who have escaped the justice system

The show is based around Dexter trying to keep his dark side a secret from those around him, while still fulfilling his own need to kill

How is crime represented in the show?Negatively: We see how acts of crime effect the victims, the police, and the world around us

Casually: Ridding the world of criminals is just a regular part of Dexter’s life. It’s how he feels normal.

Examples of street crimes, organized crime, and political crime

How might the media skew statistics on

Crime?Statistically, crime rates are dropping

Shows such as Dexter need a new story every episode

New episode means new criminal act

Make is seem as though major criminal offences take place every day, everywhere

How does television

impact the public’s

perception of crime?It depends on who is doing the crime

Dexter is a serial killer, but he is seen as good

The other criminals in the show are the ones that deserve to pay for what they have done

There is a time and a place for justice to be served

How could the media/television

perpetuate crime? In the case of Dexter, they make is look easy.

Many shows demonstrate how criminals go wrong (messy work, etc.)

He has never been officially caught, and has only been suspected a few times

Anyone could be a criminal

What sets us apart from these people?

Criminal Justice

Criminal Justice System

What does in include?

The Courts

Prison

The Police

The Police

They are the concrete extension of the State to provide for social order

Maintain peace in the community

How are all the functions tied together?

Authority

Non-negotiable force

Discretion

The Courts

They decide the guilt or innocence of those accused of committing a crime

Punishment- any action designed to deprive a person of things of value (including liberty) because of some offense the person is thought to have committed

Prison

The functions of a prison:

Retribution (Imposes a penalty on the offender)

Social Protection (He or she cannot commit crime anymore)

Rehabilitation (Return offenders to the community as law abiding citizens)

Deterrence (Reduce criminal activity by instilling a fear of punishment)

Restorative JusticeTo seek to return the focus of the justice system to repairing the harm that has been done to the victim and the community

To reconcile offenders with those they have harmed

“Circle Sentencing” Used in aboriginal communities, bringing the offender, the victim and the community together

“Family Group Conferencing” for young people linked to the victim and the family members

Community Corrections- responsibility for correction back to the community and minimizes the separation of the offender from society

Crime & Deviance in the Future

The present system cannot solve that problem of crime

Need more structural solutions like: Better educational solutions

Affordable housing

More equality

Less discrimination

Socially productive activities