Chapter 5: Media Coverage of Policing: The Effective Law Enforcer, the Bad Cop, and Crime Prevention

CRIM100

Men and Women in TV Crime Shows

Men are most often shown in all roles, especially as offenders, while females are more likely depicted in positive or sympathetic roles such as victims or criminal justice personnel.

Homicide Focus in NYPD Blue & Law & Order

Both shows focus on homicide (79% and 92% respectively), exaggerating its prevalence in NYC.

Weapons Depiction NYPD Blue

Knives and cutting instruments are overrepresented (21% vs 13% UCR), firearms underrepresented (50% vs 60% real), personal weapons overrepresented (23% vs 7% UCR).

Weapons Depiction Law & Order

Blunt objects overrepresented (17% vs 5% UCR), firearms underrepresented (46% vs 60%), personal weapons overrepresented (17% vs 7% UCR).

Case Resolution Misconception

Shows depict police and prosecutors as more likely to close cases and secure convictions than reality.

Civil Rights Violations Portrayed

TV shows often depict civil rights violations used to obtain evidence, implying Miranda warnings and exclusionary rules are unnecessary.

Exclusionary Rule

States that evidence obtained illegally is inadmissible in court (Mapp v. Ohio, 1961).

Physical Brutality on TV

NYPD Blue frequently shows officers shoving, punching, or kicking suspects, sometimes witnesses or informants.

Insulting Language in Shows

Both NYPD Blue and Law & Order frequently use degrading language, reinforcing an “us vs them” mentality.

Dualistic Fallacy

Crime shows reinforce the notion that criminals are fundamentally different from non-criminals.

Miranda Depiction on TV

NYPD Blue suggests constitutional protections, such as the Fifth Amendment, are unnecessary.

Miranda Court Case

U.S. v. Dickerson (2000) upheld Miranda, ruling it cannot be overruled by Congress and governs admissibility of statements in custodial interrogation.

Miranda Importance

Protects against self-incrimination, crucial for liberty

Police Attitudes Toward Miranda

Most police view Miranda warnings as protective and part of professional duty, not a major obstacle to policing.

CSI Popularity

Over 40 million viewers weekly in the U.S.

CSI Illusion of Infallibility

Creates the perception that science and police are virtually infallible.

CSI Forensic Facticity

The show presents forensics as accurate and crucial for solving crimes, even if the crimes themselves are unrealistic.

CSI Effect

Media-driven expectation that forensic evidence is necessary for solving crimes

Crime Type Misrepresentation CSI

72% of cases depicted are violent, with murder as the most common crime.

CSI Gender of Murderers

77% male, 19% female, 4% unknown.

CSI Race of Murderers

87% white, 6% black, 6% unknown.

CSI Victims’ Race & Gender

91% of victims white

Violence Depiction on CSI

Graphic and dehumanizing, including blood and gore, similar to slasher films.

CSI Case Resolution

Virtually all crimes solved, creating ideological closure and portraying police as infallible.

Reality vs TV Policing

Most crimes are never solved

Skepticism of CSI Effect

Some scholars suggest real jurors’ expectations may not be strongly influenced by the show.

Other Forensic Shows

Forensics Files, Body of Evidence, Cold Case Files, The New Detectives, American Justice reinforce the idea that forensics solve most crimes.

Cops Solve All Cases Myth

TV shows show high resolution rates, reality has many unsolved cases

Female Offenders on TV

Often overrepresented (43% of episodes in a study), usually white, violent, motivated by greed, revenge, or love.

Reality Female Offenders

Women make up a small portion of arrests, convictions, and prison population.

Female Offender Demonization

TV portrays them as fully responsible for crime, ignoring social context and support for rehabilitation.

America’s Most Wanted Female Offenders

Older, ethnically diverse, seductive, sexually manipulative, reinforcing “get tough” approaches.

Police in Film Genres

Action cop films (e.g., 48 Hours, Beverly Hills Cop) and corrupt cop films (e.g., Serpico, Training Day).

Action-Cop Film Structure

Three acts: introduction of characters, conflict, resolution via violence.

Hero’s Redemption

Final act of action-cop films typically features hero eliminating villain violently.

1970s Vigilante Cops

Films like Dirty Harry feature law enforcement breaking rules to pursue criminals.

Dirty Harry Series

Shows escalation in violence and extreme depictions of law enforcement from 1971–1983.

Corruption in Policing Films

Often depicts honest or repentant cop confronting corruption in department or politics.

Corrupt Cop Victory

Films show ultimate victory requires sacrifice, idealism vs systemic corruption.

Corruption Motivation

Corruption often justified as ensuring public safety, consistent with crime control model.

Dirty Harry Plot

Inspector Harry Callahan pursues serial killer Scorpio, confronting legal technicalities.

Death Wish Plot

Paul Benjamin becomes vigilante after family attacked

Crime Films Political Message

Portrays street crime as breakdown of social order

Crime Control vs Due Process Model

Action films emphasize order and control over individual rights.

Law & Order Show Structure

First half focuses on police investigation, second half on prosecution in court.

Criminal Justice System Misconception

TV implies an integrated, efficient system

Prosecutor Misrepresentation

Shown as fighting crime, often aligned with police

Juvenile Offenders on Law & Order

Mostly white males, violent, treated as adults

Mentally Ill on Law & Order

Overrepresented as dangerous, single, unemployed

Law & Order SVU Victims

Focus on white victims under 18

Law & Order SVU Female Offenders

Overrepresented, depicted as manipulative, cruel

Crime Clearance Misconceptions

TV shows portray all crimes cleared by arrest, high conviction rates (92%), unlike real NYC statistics.

Civil Rights Violations Normalized

Suspects’ rights often ignored on shows

Miranda & Constitutional Protections

Essential legal safeguards threatened by TV portrayals