CCJ 385 - Crime and the Media

4 credits
Analyzes the representations of crime and the criminal justice system that are presented through American mass media. This course explores the relationship of the mass media to our perceptions of crime, criminals, and the criminal justice system, and how it influences public opinion, public policies and general social attitudes toward crime and violence. Topics discussed include theories of criminal behavior, crime causation, justice, deterrence, victimization, and social control. These are reviewed from the context of viewing several full-length films dealing with crime, violence, and efforts to control these issues.