African American Suspects example essay topic

Crime and the Media Criminology 330 Crime and the Media The public depends on the news media for its understanding of crime. Reportedly three quarters (76%) of the public say, they form their opinions about crime from what they see or read in the news (Dorfman & Schiraldi, 2001). After reviewing five hours of reality crime television shows, one is left with a very dismal look on society and a prejudice towards minorities as they are largely depicted as the perpetrators of crime. This new genre commonly referred to as reality television appears to be sweeping the nation by storm.

Opinions vary, depending on whom you ask, to what extent reality plays a role versus the selling of a product. Sensationalism, advertising, ratings hype, profiling and fear all comprise the mass medias' marketing strategy to America. Sadly, what we see portrayed by television shows such as "COPS" have contributed largely and in some cases unjustly to the prejudices that are present today. The predominant races of the suspects portrayed in the episodes of COPS were African Americans (Langley, 2005). The predominant genders of the suspects were male. However, the May 5, 2005, episode of COPS featured an exclusive on COPS: Bad Girls (Langley, 2005).

Combining the special episode with the four and a half hours of regular viewing of COPS the numbers still reflect the predominance of suspects featured are African American males (Langley, 2005). In two cases out of the nineteen viewed, the suspects were Caucasian, and the reason for the stop was expired tags. This stop was handled much differently than the previous stop. The officers were not aggressive when they approached the car, and the incident proceeded in a civilized manner. Ironically, in the scene prior to the present, the officers had observed an African American suspect in a drug area with expired tags, and the encounter was very different. A car chase ensued, an ultimate arrest with the suspect forced to the ground in an aggressive manner, searched, and hand cuffed.

The officers suggest to the audience their suspicions that drugs may be involved. Ultimately, their suspicions prove correct when the cameras capture the crack cocaine hidden in the pants of the suspect. Of the crimes, featured 90% were drug related and 10% were associated with domestic crimes. On the COPS episode aired on May 6, 2005, the suspect, African American observed in an undercover sting operation purchasing drugs (Langley, 2005). It was more than obvious to the viewing audience, hence it must have been to the officer who observed; that the suspect had purchased drugs. The apprehension and subsequent arrest all dramatized for the cameras.

The suspect, heard on camera being questioned about his past domestic violence charges, his inability to pay child support and finally he is asked about the observed drug purchase. Of the nineteen cases reviewed, drug related crimes were more prevalent. In cases involving African American suspects, the drug of choice was crack cocaine. In suspects that were Caucasian, the drug of choice was methamphetamine's. On the episode aired on May 5, 2005, COPS: Bad Girls, the suspect, a Caucasian woman was selling drugs and prostituting (Langley, 2005). With the cameras rolling, the audience is able to overhear, that the suspect is on welfare and has had her children taken away because of her drug habit.

The suspect denies the charges, and the officer insists on making the point that she is using her welfare money in order to purchase drugs. In the cases reviewed, the program did not divulge the age. Upon observation, the average estimated age is twenty-five. Age did not appear to have any particular correlation to the type of criminal activity.

What appeared to be more in play was the socioeconomic scale of the suspects. The average age and circumstances seem to strike a familiar vein with the cases reviewed. On average, the suspects were unemployed, residing with a family member, a history of violence and drug use. This profile seems to fit 95% of the cases reviewed.

Each suspect appeared to have the same story surrounding, their need to commit illegal activities in order to eat, pay the bills and support their families. The advertisers are very perceptive with their airtime. During the afternoon, the audience watches the bumpers for the show coming on in the evening. The commercial gives you the tease to watch the show later in the evening. The teaser is very tantalizing, and mentions a catch phrase such as "so you thought your neighborhood was safe, watch COPS this evening at... ". the viewer is left on the edge of their seat (Langley, 2005). After the advertising for COPS has run, the commercials following up the ad are selling home security, personal injury attorney services and an anger management center (Langley, 2005).

Ironically, in the evening, when the program aired, the commercials geared towards the more established consumer. The commercials aired during regularly scheduled programming are advertising new hardwood flooring, car polish, A's baseball tickets, Vocational College and the latest movie opening. During the program, the advertisers appear to focus their product line on women between the ages of 35 - 40 years. The assumptions made are based on the types of products that were advertised, such as spa vacations, home security (featuring a women and her family threatened by an intruder), advertising for a family SUV (featuring children being carried to a soccer match), the focus is on the female consumer, with emphasis on protection of her family. The later evening airings of COPS featured a very different appeal by the advertisers (Langley, 2005). The commercials featured the latest violent moving opening, enticing expensive car commercials, commercials geared at suing your employer or workers compensation and how to clean up your debt overnight.

The impression noted was individuals focused on working and having responsible lives are normally not awake at this time, and if they are more than likely, they are not watching COPS. The difference in advertising according to the time aired leaves one with the impression that the audiences watching COPS in the early morning hours are focused more on materialistic and violence driven marketing tactics. Negative images portrayed by the media in some cases unjustly effect how we view crime and the criminal mind. In concluding this exercise, it is important to note, how severely race played a role in the cases observed.

The socioeconomic issues were prevalent throughout each of the cases observed. Dr. Cornell West, prominent author and educator, raised issues in his book Race Matters, pertaining to how African Americans experience the criminal justice system. Dr. West points out "The urgent problem of black poverty is primarily due to the distribution of wealth, power, and income-a distribution influenced by the racial caste system that denied opportunities to most 'qualified' black people until two decades ago". (West, 1994. p. 93-5).

Clearly, economics contributed to the criminal propensities of the suspect viewed. The African American suspects compared to their counterparts, appeared scary, drug crazed and out of control. While it is unfortunate, people still believe, if it is on television it must be true. Reality crime television provides a false sense of legitimacy. Those that watch the show, often forget that in the final analysis, it is television, and the main point of television programming is to entertain, sell advertisement and achieve the best ratings possible.

Bibliography

Dorfman, L, & Schiraldi, V. (2001).
Off balance: youth, race & crime in the news. Building Blocks for Youth Law Center. Retrieved May 5, 2005, from web J.
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COPS. (Television series). New York: Fox. West, C. (1994).