Media s Influence On Public Perception Of Law Enforcement...

It is no secret that the media is able to influence the general public’s opinion on most anything. Whether the subject is fiction or non, movies, documentaries, and the news especially, are capable of swaying the public’s opinions and perceptions one way or the other. Not even the world of law enforcement is safe from the media’s purview (Barlow, M. H. and Barlow, D. E. and Chiricos T. G., 1995), as media portrayals often romanticize law enforcement as a well oiled machine that always gets the bad guy, and has a perfect relationship with the public. On top of this, the media has displayed a poor habit of portraying crime as predominantly violent and racial, rather than showing the whole picture(Gilliam, F. D. and Iyengar, S. and Simon, A. and Wright, O., 1996). In this paper, the motives driving these depictions, as well as the scope and effect of the media’s influence on public perception of law enforcement, will be explored and discussed. MEDIA INFLUENCE One of the largest ways the media influences public opinions is through the news. News outlets report on local and world events, often applying their own bias to advance an agenda (Cavender, 2004). In general, entertainment television depicts crime, especially violent crime, far more often than it actually occurs in the real world (O’Keefe, 1987). Crime is more often than not presented to the public in two ways: crime is violent and criminals are nonwhite (Gilliam, et al, 1996). When put together, these two factors haveShow MoreRelatedThe Problem Of Local Police868 Words   |  4 PagesDescription of the Problem Local police are being overly co-opt by federal law enforcement agencies. They are directing too many resources toward protecting the nation’s borders and other federal duties. It is a belief held by some that local police are becoming too militaristic in nature by using military-style weapons, tactics, training, uniforms, and heavy equipment. This notion makes local police no longer a benefit for the community. A number of attacks on American soil have demonstrated thisRead MoreThe Media And The Criminal Justice System Essay1260 Words   |  6 PagesThe media plays the role as entertaining and a source of information to its viewers, however, with the current crime trends, most viewers have the perceptions that our criminal justice system is lacking in areas of proper sentencing and protecting the viewers. All this is based upon what we see in the media is the information reliable or not? I say this because of hearing about news personality lying about their experience only to booster the networks rating. When the criminal justice system hasRead More Profiling and Police/Community Relations Essay1435 Words   |  6 Pagescompleted by early intervention systems, in an effort to reduce complaints from members of the community. The literature on the attitudes which community members have about profiling states that race, personal experience, and media framing influence the public’s perception (Graziano, Schuck, Martin, 2010; Weitzer Tuch, 2002). The literature on early intervention systems is demonstrative of how such systems can become critical management tools, tailor-made for addressing behavioral and managementRead MoreRealtionship Between the Media, Public Perceptions of Crime and Police1553 Words   |  7 PagesDoes the media and the amount of exposure to specific news media affect fear of crime? This question is examined in a survey with data collected from three universities in the United States and one in Canada;  The Impact of Media on Fear of Crime among University Students: A Cross-National Comparison, goes over the results. It’s believed that fear in itself can be debilitating leading to harmful social outcomes. Vincent Sacco believes there are three dimensions to fear of c rime: cognitive, emotionalRead MoreEvaluation Of A Block Of Land On Flagstaff Crescent1726 Words   |  7 Pages Identify the areas of law that are relevant to the chosen media report, and explain how they are relevant to the matters outlined in the report. †¨ This report analyses the altercation between Norvik Industry s ( a building company), Water Corporation and Adrian and Linda Webb who are owners of a block of land on Flagstaff Crescent in Secret Harbour Contract Law Contract Law is a key aspect between the Water Corporations company, Norvik Industry and Adriana and Linda Webb. First of all, NordicRead MoreIs the nature of crime in our society accurately presented by the media? Discuss.1502 Words   |  7 PagesNATURE OF CRIME IN OUR SOCIETY ACCURATELY PRESENTED BY THE MEDIA? DISCUSS. _INTRODUCTION_ A considerable amount of literature consistently argues that the way crime is portrayed in the media significantly differs from what official records and research tell us, that is to say, that the media is said to misrepresent the crime problem. Five main arguments are presented demonstrating that the media distorts the crime problem. First, the media tend to report on crimes that are considered `newsworthyRead MoreLaw Enforcement Officers Face Incredible Dangers Essay1630 Words   |  7 PagesLaw enforcement officers have encountered some very deadly days. The life of a law enforcement officer is one of constantly being aware of your surroundings, dealing with the uncertainty of not knowing the individuals you have to approach, and being able to cope with the visual images seen after vicious crimes. The life of a law enforcement officer, who protects and serves, is both challenging and rewarding. The first law enforcement system was established in Boston, Massachusetts over 350 yea rsRead MoreMedia Reports And Police Brutality2942 Words   |  12 PagesMedia Reports and Police Brutality The purpose of my proposed research is to study the effect of media reports on the current Americans’ perceptions of police brutality. Police brutality has been a headline topic for debate for the past century. This topic’s popularity has grown recently due to advancements in media technology over the past two decades. Police brutality is a problem in the United States for both, citizens and police officers. It is important to study the effect that mass media coverageRead MorePolice Officers As Beacon For Justice963 Words   |  4 PagesIn the past the media portrayed police officers as beacon for justice. Based on personal experiences, until about the 1990’s every little boy growing up wanted to be the good guy. However in today’s new popular culture, young boys are no longer arguing over who gets to be the good guy. The villain is now seen as a viable option. The difference in views comes from the mass media; police officers are now being represented in a more negative characteristic. Some police portrayals show the police asRead MoreCrime Is Not A Major Problem1855 Words   |  8 Pagesresults to be an accurate assessment and reflection of crime, to examine and compare differing perspectives of crime, and to research the effect the media has upon the perceptions of crime and whether it can accurately determine whether crime is a major problem in Australia. Crime has always been socially defined, determined by morals ethics and perceptions, and leads to varying and competing views and comprehensive debate. It can be universally agreed that the definition of crime in terms of legal