SOCI 1300 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: White-Collar Crime, Stereotype, Homicide
Document Summary
2: public opinion, the news media, and the crime problem. People have always said that crime is rising, are concerned about it. Democratic theory states that policy decisions by public officials should reflect public opinion. Criticism: officials r controlled by the elite, also that majority opinion may violate democratic principals (e. g. civil war), also public opinion is often inaccurate. City"s news media suddenly devotes lots of attention to a small # of crimes and make it seem like crime is rampant. Often crime will be dropping while reporters make it seem like it"s huge. Media devotes lots of attention to super uncommon stories: e. g. Report black-on-white crime though most crime is intraracial. More attention to white rather than black victims. Portrays poc suspects worse in the stories- have their mugshots up, etc. A ton of focus on youth violence. Though true youths commit only 14% of violent crime.
