NCJ Number
227430
Journal
Howard Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 48 Issue: 2 Dated: May 2009 Pages: 184-199
Date Published
May 2009
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This study examined the television show, MSNBC Investigates--Lockup, to determine how televised documentaries depict prisons.
Abstract
Since most people do not have first-hand knowledge of the prison system, media images are critical in shaping their understanding of these institutions. Results found that Lockup presented a more accurate view of prison employees than of the institutions themselves. By focusing exclusively on large maximum-security intuitions, this series offered only a glimpse at the realities of the prison system; this failure is likely replicated in the inmates who were featured in this series. Findings suggest that the view of imprisonment given through the images presented in Lockup clearly supports current crime control policies by failing to address the general prison population. It is likely that the Lockup's depiction of prison is unique for its genre. This study is the first step toward understanding the images presented to the general public in televised documentaries; future research should delve into the latent content featured in the series and ultimately other televised prison documentaries, as well as examine the attitudes and beliefs of the people who choose to watch these programs. Finally, it is the responsibility of those most familiar with the correctional system to find ways to present stories about prison to the general public in a more straightforward and unadulterated way. Table, notes, and references