NCJ Number
68465
Journal
POLIZEI Volume: 69 Issue: 9 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 8, 1978) Pages: 269-271
Date Published
1978
Length
3 pages
Annotation
RESULTS OF WEST GERMAN STUDIES EXPLORING THE REPRESENTATION OF THE POLICE ON TELEVISION ARE SUMMARIZED.
Abstract
THE REPRESENTATION OF POLICEMEN AS INDIVIDUALS, OF THEIR METHODS AND RESULTS, AND OF THE CAUSES AND NATURE OF CRIMES ON WEST GERMAN TELEVISION IS FOUND TO BE UNREALISTIC, THOUGH POSITIVE. ALTHOUGH IN REALITY PATROLMEN PLAY A SIGNIFICANT ROLE AS CRIME FIGHTERS, TELEVISION VIRTUALLY IGNORES THEM AND CONCENTRATES ON THE ACTIVITIES OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATORS. IN THE FICTIONAL SHOWS, A DOMINANT TYPE OF INVESTIGATOR WITH POSITIVE BUT SUPERFICIAL CHARACTERISTICS EMERGES. TELEVISION'S INVESTIGATORS ARE CONSISTENTLY SUCCESSFUL, AND EVEN IN NEWS PROGRAMS, THEY ACHIEVE THE DESIRED RESULTS IN 70 TO 85 PERCENT OF THEIR CASES. FURTHERMORE, NEWS PROGRAMS TEND TO CONDONE POLICE VIOLENCE AND UNAUTHORIZED POLICE ACTIONS. THE REAL PROBLEMS IN DEALING WITH CRIME ARE MISREPRESENTED: CRIME PREVENTION MEASURES ARE IGNORED IN FAVOR OF TOUGH ACTION; THE SOCIAL ASPECTS OF CRIME ARE IGNORED IN FAVOR OF PRESENTING CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR AS AN INDIVIDUAL ABERRATION. A 1974 POLL INDICATED THAT 46 PERCENT OF THOSE QUESTIONED RECEIVED THEIR IMPRESSION OF THE POLICE THROUGH THE MASS MEDIA. ALTHOUGH 88 PERCENT OF THOSE QUESTIONED HAD POSITIVE ATTITUDES TOWARD THE POLICE, THE POLICE ARE NOT SATISFIED WITH THEIR MEDIA IMAGE FOR SEVERAL REASONS: (1) REAL PROBLEMS FACED BY THE OFFICERS ARE IGNORED; (2) FALSE EXPECTATIONS ARE AROUSED; (3) RESPONSIBILITY FOR CRIME PREVENTION IS SEEN SOLELY AS A POLICE FUNCTION; AND (4) THE SIMPLISTIC DIVISION OF MANKIND INTO GOOD OR EVIL HINDERS A REAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE CAUSES OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR. FOOTNOTES AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. --IN GERMAN.