NCJ Number
84266
Journal
Contemporary Crises Volume: 6 Issue: 3 Dated: (July 1982) Pages: 227-239
Date Published
1982
Length
13 pages
Annotation
Media coverage of the 1977 San Diego police crime sweeps illustrates how the police deliberately use the media to nurture their public image as crimefighters and public protectors. The case study also suggests that the media are willing parties to the image-building, which culminates in more taxpayer dollars going to police.
Abstract
The sweeps involved flooding an ocean beach community, a downtown area heavily used by prostitutes, drug dealers, and addicts, and a park where blatant use of marijuana was common with undercover agents. The media touted the crime sweeps as resulting in massive arrests, particularly of drug abusers responsible for significant amounts of property crime. However, analysis of newspaper accounts and arrest statistics suggests that the impact of the sweeps is less impressive. Only 3 of the 340 persons arrested were brought in for index crimes, although these 3 crimes were given maximum newspaper coverage. Only 6 percent of the arrests related to the reason used to justify the sweeps: to stop the dealing of hard drugs in public places. Fifty-four percent of the arrests were for marijuana possession, and 19 percent were for other misdemeanors. Earlier newspaper stories describing the sweeps were longer and more detailed. Later ones were mostly composed of photographs and less explicit about the background of the sweeps. Also, earlier stories distinguished between index and drug-related crimes; later ones blurred or ignored the difference. It is apparent that the media supported the police's use of this strategy to improve their public image. Media control by corporate interests is probably a factor in this activity, as is police departments' need to maintain the status quo to ensure continued funds.