Can watching TV crime dramas distort perception of the criminal justice system?
People who watch forensic and crime dramas on TV are more likely than non-viewers to have a distorted perception of America’s criminal justice system, according to new research from Purdue University. “These kinds of shows, such as ‘CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,’ ‘Law & Order,’ ‘Cold Case’ and ‘The Closer,’ are some of the most popular programs on television today, so it’s important that we understand how they might influence people,” says Glenn Sparks, a professor of communication who studies mass media effects. “We know they have inspired people to pursue careers in forensic science and law enforcement, but what are some of their other effects? We found that people who watch these shows regularly are more likely to overestimate the frequency of serious crimes, misperceive important facts about crime and misjudge the number of workers in the judicial system.” Sparks and Susan Huelsing Sarapin, a doctoral student in communication, conducted 103 surveys with jury-eligible adults about
