Contrasting Constructions of Crime: International Perspectives on Drug Crimes versus Sex Crimes - CANCELLED

• In Event: Governing Crime and Deviance: State Power, Morality, and Comparative Legal Frameworks

Abstract

This comparative news critique examines the contrasting portrayals of the extradition of Rafael Caro Quintero and 28 other cartel figures versus the arrival of the Tate brothers in the U.S. while facing charges for sex crimes abroad. Employing moral panic theory and symbolic interactionism, a qualitative content analysis of mainstream news coverage, including national and international news outlets, reveals how media narratives construct disparate realities. Both cases expose systemic disparities within the criminal justice system, where power, privilege, and international relations dictate perceptions and treatment. Media framing plays a crucial role in shaping public opinion and policy decisions, underscoring the necessity for critical media analysis and the inclusion of diverse perspectives around the complexities of transnational crimes, extradition and cross-border investigations.

Author

• Elia Del Carmen Solano-Patricio, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY