Critics argue our over-exposure to crime TV is to blame for our inflated American perceptions of crime. Lisa Kort-Butler and Kelley Sittner Hartshorn (Sociological Quarterly, Winter 2011) recently discovered that crime dramas aren’t all viewed the same way. Viewers of shows like Law and Order aren’t actually more afraid of victimization; it’s those who tune in to nonfictional shows, like A&E’s The First 48, who are inordinately impacted.
The authors point out several possible reasons for the disparity: for one, their survey is of Nebraska residents, and crime documentaries are often set in rural areas while crime dramas are played out in urban settings. But what they really think is driving differences in perceived crime rates and faith in the system is the pseudo-authenticity of crime documentaries. Dramatized programs disguised as in-depth reporting provide concrete information about criminal events. They contribute to the notion that crime in the U.S. is out of control. Moreover, non-fictional shows depict the challenges of dealing with crime, sometimes even leaving crimes unsolved while the detectives on CSI get their man. Set within a media format that amplifies fear for dramatic effect, these “reality” crime shows leave people more nervous than ever.
