Poster #120 - The Effect of Media on Undergraduates' Perceptions of Crime

• In Event: Poster Session II (posters 80 – 155)

Abstract

Community perceptions of crime and law enforcement can be heavily influenced by the media. Often, citizens perceive higher rates of crime, particularly violent crime, than the local crime statistics reflect. Understanding this perception is important as it directly influences the community’s interactions with law enforcement, as well as their interactions with the criminal justice system. To do so, we surveyed college students at a satellite campus in a small metropolitan area about their perceptions of crime, local law enforcement’s legitimacy, and what role media, such as social media or the news, may impact their perceptions. Results and implications of this study are discussed.

Authors

• Alivia Eleanor Taylor, Utah State University

• Katlyn Casagrande, Utah State University