Discuss How Television And Media Have Impacted Your View

discuss How Television And Media Have Impacted Your View Of Criminal

Television and media have significantly shaped my perception of criminal activity and criminal investigations. Popular crime dramas and investigative shows often emphasize the idea that law enforcement can quickly solve complex cases through flashy techniques, high-tech forensics, and intuitive profiling. Shows like "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" and "Law & Order" have fostered an expectation that evidence collection and forensic science can rapidly lead to justice. In my view, these portrayals have created a perception that criminal investigations are straightforward and always yield clear results, which is far from reality. The media often sensationalizes crime, emphasizing dramatization over accuracy, which influences public opinion—including my own—to sometimes overestimate the efficiency and infallibility of law enforcement. If I were currently in law enforcement, I believe this media influence might lead me to expect quicker resolutions or to believe that technological advancements can solve cases effortlessly. As an aspiring criminal justice professional, these portrayals have inspired a fascination with forensic science and investigative techniques but also underscore the importance of understanding the complexities and challenges faced by real investigators. Overall, media has had a profound impact on how I view criminal investigation, highlighting both its potential and its limitations, and shaping my expectations of law enforcement’s role in justice.

imagine that you are working with another police officer to investigate a crime. The officer you are working with believes that the individual you are investigating is guilty, but there is no real evidence linking him to the crime. In order to ensure prosecution of the individual in question, your co-investigator makes up evidence and presents it as factual, which results in a conviction of the individual. What is your opinion about what the officer did? Do you believe that the end justifies the means? Why, or why not?

In my opinion, the actions of the officer who fabricated evidence in order to secure a conviction are highly unethical and undermine the integrity of the criminal justice system. Fabricating evidence not only violates legal standards but also breaches ethical principles that emphasize honesty, fairness, and the pursuit of truth. While the end goal may be to ensure justice through the conviction of a suspect, resorting to deception compromises the very foundation of justice—that individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty through legitimate, lawful procedures. The idea that “the end justifies the means” is problematic in law enforcement because it sets a dangerous precedent that unethical actions can be justified if they produce desired outcomes. Such behavior erodes public trust in law enforcement agencies and can lead to wrongful convictions, which harm innocent individuals and tarnish the reputation of the justice system. Upholding ethical standards and adhering to proper legal procedures are essential to ensuring that justice is genuine and sustainable. Therefore, I strongly oppose manipulating or fabricating evidence, as doing so ultimately damages the credibility, fairness, and legitimacy of criminal investigations and convictions.

References

• Baker, R. (2020). Criminal Justice Ethics and Integrity. Oxford University Press.
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