1. Running head: MEDIA AND JUSTICE 1
Media and the Criminal Justice System
Dawn M. Gibson (Ugitsisgv)
IP#2- Dr. Bonner
Colorado Technical University

2. MEDIA AND JUSTICE 2
Abstract
Media coverage influences the public's perception of the criminal justice system and the policy
agendas of those within the system. This often results in changes within the operational structure
of the police, courts, and corrections centers. These changes include the firing of employees, the
initiation of internal investigations, and the privatization of services. Media can be a related fact
for why people commit crimes, or even encourage violence. Perhaps media should be held
accountable for their actions and showing violent portrayals that may have an affect such as copy
cats do. They may want to experience the events, or it may cause them to numb to violence. The
media should be held accountable for false information, or misinformed reporting as it could
cause issues to some cases or even violent reaction depending on what is being put in the media.
One example would be songs song about killing cops, bombing, killing, and so on. Games with
rewards for each time something is killed. Movies, that portrays the bad guys, as someone to
admire. They may be handsome, smart mouth, smooth, and seem to enjoy the criminal life.
Children who watch these types of media may not be able to tell the difference or become numb
to reality. Media can be beneficial as well when there is someone they want to find, or identify as
suspects in a case.

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Media and the Criminal Justice System
Criminal justice systemportrayed in the media
This would depend on the view point of the media doing the report. There are those who
show only the bad area of the justice system. Videos which cut out certain segments, which
portray police as being brutal, when in facts the actions of the criminals was not also shown. On
the other hand- one hand may wash another and certain situations may be covered up, by
handouts. The media is more vast than ever before social medias, newspapers, phones, videos,
and so on. In the past, information had to be accurate, now these days they do not make certain
and rush to be the first report, which often reports inaccurate information.
Impact that the media has on a viewer's perception of the criminal justice system
This again depends on the one reporting, however, people research in more depth these days.
The media seems to dwell on the negative more than the positive. Social media has been very
harsh on the criminal system movies, videos of supposedly officers causing harm to civilians.
The movies often lack the whole picture, and people began to reply nastily against officers and
the law. Social media can become a headache as the media will report issues, put on videos of
incidents much sooner than relatives may be contacted. It is a price we pay for improving
technology; on the other hand it has also caught some illegal activities. The smarter citizen will
hopefully research for themselves to find the whole truth and not bits and pieces. Crime in the

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news reports that 1990-1999, major networks reported more coverage on crime than any other
topic. Media made the crime world seem like the most important topic. Even though homicides
dropped, news coverage doubled on homicides they could find (Becket& Sasson, 2005).
Coverage of sensationalistic and violent crime does it create fear among the general public
These days the media reports on the negative situations more than seeking a positive.
ISIS is in the news these days. The media reports on the evil and dangerous situations that occur,
making the population fear, and hate Muslims, just as they did in 9/11. The real facts are that
these are not traditional Muslims, but radical. The question is why are they doing what they do?
How do they know where to attack? The media has falsely reported information that will create a
panic attack within society. Reports of Muslims coming in and belonging to ISIS has created a
hatred for all Muslims. This is unrealistic and sad that people cannot think for themselves. How
do you deny people fleeing from their homes in terror a chance to have some peace? This is after
all what supposedly America was built on. Media in the past has turned our country against those
who serve and protect her, one example of this is Vietnam, when reports did not have control
over whatever they decided to report on and often made our military men out to be criminals.
They fought in hell and came home to another nightmarish hell (Bortner, 1984).
According to Browns (1996) article, it suggests that violence in the media (TV, Movies,
games, etc.) can have a direct effect on society and violence. Exposure to violent media can have
a relationship to how the public reacts or carries out certain crimes. “They want to experience
what they saw” effect. Often videos and games can cause some not to be able to separate reality
and fantasy. They become addicted or involved within a “fake world” (Brown, 1996).

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People who watch violence may become more irritable, angry, lack emotions as they
become addicted to a fantasy world; they have become a part of. These can be movies, and
games that portray law as the bad guy, violence that many may want to try, and the inability to
understand that real life does not tolerate such behavior.
Television and news reporting shows more than is needed, which desensitizes many
people. After seeing end results they may feel it is no big deal. Small children especially, you
cannot unseen, once you have seen. Some may interpret it as a cat and mouse game, or feel they
could do better, or be like Bonnie and Clyde. They may want notary that comes with their crime,
after all, no one bodies can be somebody for a lifetime. After committing a crime they will be in
the news, forever, because media will cover their story for years o come bring it up. After the
movie, 50 shades of gray, people knew more about exotic sex than before, and some would have
to try. Reports of accidental death due to rough sex became news. Pornography, people have to
try it or get their partners to try, they believe it is the norm, because media showed it. Gerber,
1994, states 85 percent of responders in a public poll stated there was too much violence on
television (Brown, 1996, para 18).
Murphy 1996, using the Morgan poll, in Australia, stated 85 percent stated the media
concentrated too much on sensenilist reporting of sex and violence. 8- percent thought the media
did not care about people privacy or feelings. 42 percent thought television should be censored
(Brown, 1996, para 19).
Fear and criminal justice policy attitudes

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A 25 year Canadian study shows that woman more than men are likely to report they are
afraid of crime. (41% females- 12% males) It varies with each location. One in three Canadians
fear crime, yet the Canadian government do not spend much time on this topic.. The implications
of the study show that people feel safe within their own communities. People feel their
government does not put crime as a priority issue. They feel that the laws and sentences for
criminals are not hard enough, or tough enough to discourage them from returning to crime.
People feel if their government is not going to get involved, what is the use. (Roberts, 2001).
The correlation between gender, education, income, age, and perceived neighborhood
problems and police effectiveness in dealing with crime, depends on the daily interactions. In the
past African Americans have a lower trust level than whites. It is still this way depending on the
locations. Where you have a diverse police forces, you have more trust because there is less
likely to be prejudges or one sided feelings. They need to be a daily presence as well. The
diverse police services would be more trusted as long as they acted fairly, and took the people’s
fears and concerns seriously. They need to communicate with the public, especially the kids. The
white policemen may be more inclined to do unwarranted searches, because they have not
experienced the unfair and injustices the African- American have. Most perceptions are what
they have experienced in the past, or have been born into. Families of these eras teach their
children what they cannot trust. For an example the Rodney King, beating and the Zimmerman
shootings were in just and promoted fear and mistrust among the communities surrounding these
incidents. Canada with the missing aboriginal peoples feels their government and police do not
care enough to react. Why are they disappearing in drastic amounts and why have there been no
investigations. These issues related to why police or laws are trusted or not. The actions speak
lower than words. Police diversity and being a constant presence helps to alleviate fear and gains

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trust. It gives them a feeling of safety. Communities that have programs for latch key kids also
help to relieve these situations, where someone is always having a neighborhood watch.
Programs such as D.A.R.E., C.O.R.E., boys and girls clubs that are there for the kids, to teach
them respect for others and for themselves. They help the kids succeed and give them a place
they can feel secure and not alone, like in their homes, and away from street activities such as
gangs. Goodman and Holmes suggest that poorer communities are most likely to not trust white
authority, perhaps the suggestion that poor will take out of need or want because they cannot
afford. In any case, how people are treated by those in authority relates how people trust and
respect them. Just because a person has a criminal background as a child does not mean they
will be criminal as adults, some people learn from their mistakes. (Goodman & Holmes, 2010).
As the above statement says, we can choose our paths. When we see things, which are
wrong and choose to look away, because we do not want to deal with the situation, looking away
is just as guilty as doing the crime. The same as remaining silent, when you see something, you
are just as guilty and it is a crime you will have to live with. Once you have seen, you can not
erase. You can deny it, but the vision and knowledge will always be there. We need to work
together to make this world safer, one culture is not better than another. United we stand, divided
we fall. There is no peace or safety until we all unite as one fighting crime.

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References
Beckett, K. & Sasson, T. (2005). Crime in the media. Defending Justice. Political research
associates, 1310 Broadway, suite 201, Somerville, MA.02144. Retrieved from
http://www.publiceye.org/defendingjustice/overview/beckett_media.html
Bortner, M. A. (1984). Media images and public attitudes toward crime and justice. Justice and
the media, p. 15-30, 1984, Ray Surette, ed. NCJ -95768. Retrieved from
https://www.ncjrs.gov/App/Publications/abstract.aspx?ID=95769
Brown, M. (1996). The portrayal of violence in the media impacts and implications for policy.
Australian Institute of criminology. June 1996: no55.pg 41-60. Retrieved from
http://www.aic.gov.au/publications/current%20series/tandi/41-60/tandi55.html
Cassese, E. & Weber, C. (2011). Emotion, attribution, and attitudes towards crime. Journal of
integrated social sciences. 2(1):63-97. Retrieved from
http://www.jiss.org/documents/volume_2/issue_1/JISS_2011_Attitudes_Toward_Crime.
pdf
Goodman, D. & Holmes, E. J. (2010) African- American and White perceptions of police
services: The impact of diversity on citizen’s attitude towards police services. Academia.
Journal of Public management and social policy. Retrieved from
https://www.academia.edu/3868068/African-
American_and_White_Perception_of_Police_Services_The_Impact_of_Diversity_on_Cit
izens_Attitudes_toward_Police_Services
Roberts, J. V. (2001) Public fear of crime and perceptions of the criminal justice system: A
review of recent trends.[user report 2001-02]Ottawa Solicitor General. Canada. vol.6 .

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no.6, Nov. 2001. Retrieved from http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/pblctns/frcrm-
pcpjst/index-eng.aspx