The Impact of Crime-Related TV shows on Attitudes toward the Police among Citizen Participants of Community Policing Program

• In Event: Media, Police, and the Public

Abstract

Crime-related TV shows such as ‘Law and Order’ and ‘Criminal Minds’ have gained its popularity during recent years. Accordingly, researchers have examined its impact on criminal justice system. While community policing is a predominant philosophy of policing strategies for past three decades and its various aspects have been rigorously examined, the impact of crime-related TV shows on citizen participation in community policing is under-examined. Using two waves of survey data collected from citizen participants of community policing program in Houston, TX, therefore, this study attempts to disclose the relationship between the exposure to crime-related TV shows and attitudes toward the police among citizen participants of community policing program. Structural equation modeling is employed for analysis in this study.

Author

• Jae-Seung Lee, Northern Kentucky University