Media and Criminal Justice Public Policy: Future Prospects (From The Media and Criminal Justice Policy, P 299-312, 1990, Ray Surette, ed. -- See NCJ-125773)

• NCJ Number: 125793
• Author(s): R Surette
• Date Published: 1990
• Length: 14 pages
• Sale Source: Charles C. Thomas
• Publication Type: Best Practice/State-of-the-Art Review
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This chapter examines the current knowledge base from which media-criminal justice policy recommendations can be issued, the research needed, and the policies indicated.

Abstract

A review of the current knowledge base related to media and criminal justice policy first addresses the media's impact on individual deviant behaviors, notably suicide, sexual offenses, and copycat crimes. The chapter concludes that although research has established the media's influence on some deviant behaviors, it has not established a direct causal connection between media stimuli and specific deviant behaviors apart from other variables appearing in combination. A review of research on the media's influence on criminal justice agendas and policy decisionmakers identifies some influence, but it is indirect, complex, and unpredictable. The research needed is in the areas of long-term media effects, media models, and at-risk populations. Policies recommended by the chapter, given the current state of knowledge, focus on changes in the style and emphasis of media portrayals and crime reporting rather than on direct media restrictions. Since knowledge about the media's systematic effects on criminal justice policy is in its early stages, practitioners should do little more than observe, take notes, and learn the history of the local media-criminal justice system relationship. Regarding the use of media technology in criminal justice and crime prevention operations, continued and expanded experimentation attended by effective evaluations is recommended. 31 references.