HOW TV (TEVEVISION) COPS FLOUT THE LAW (FROM READINGS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE, 1978-1979 - ANNUAL EDITIONS, BY DONAL E J MACNAMARA - SEE NCJ-47702)

• NCJ Number: 47707
• Author(s): S ARONS; E KATSH
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 6 pages
• Corporate Author: Dushkin/McGraw Hill Publishing Group, Inc
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: REPRINTED FROM SATURDAY REVIEW (MARCH 19, 1977)

Annotation

TELEVISION'S GLORIFICATION OF BLATANTLY ILLEGAL BEHAVIOR BY POLICE OFFICERS IS DISCUSSED, WITH REFERENCE TO STATISTICS FROM A 1.5-YEAR STUDY OF TELEVISION POLICE PROGRAMS.

Abstract

FROM THE FALL OF 1974 TO THE SPRING OF 1976, TELEVISION POLICE SHOWS WERE VIDEOTAPED AND REVIEWED WITH A VIEW TO ASSESSING THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF THE POLICE BEHAVIOR SANCTIONED IN THE PROGRAMS. IN 15 RANDOMLY SELECTED PRIME-TIME POLICE PROGRAMS TELEVISED DURING A WEEK IN MARCH 1976, 43 SEPARATE SCENES INVOLVING QUESTIONABLE POLICE BEHAVIOR WERE FOUND, INCLUDING 21 CLEAR CONSTITUTIONAL VIOLATIONS. THE POSSIBILITY THAT SUCH TELEVISION PROGRAMMING MAY HAVE THE EFFECT OF SOFTENING PUBLIC OPINION REGARDING ILLEGAL POLICE BEHAVIOR AND OF ENCOURAGING THE COURTS TO STRENGTHEN THE FORCES OF LAW AND ORDER BY LEGALIZING CRIMES BY POLICE OFFICERS IS BROUGHT OUT. THREE 1976 SUPREME COURT DECISIONS AND HYPOTHETICAL TELEVISION POLICE SHOW PLOTS THAT WOULD REFLECT THE DECISIONS ARE CITED AS CASES IN POINT. CASE EXAMPLES OF PROGRAMS AND SCENES IN WHICH ILLEGAL POLICE CONDUCT IS IGNORED OR REWARDED ARE INCLUDED. (LKM)