Myths And Realities Of Crime: Understanding Society's Percep

Myths and Realities of Crime: Understanding Society's Perceptions

Prior to beginning work on this assignment, watch Crimes of the Powerful, available through the Films on Demand database in the University of Arizona Global Campus Library. Additionally, read Chapters 5 and 6 from the textbook. Our justice system tends to focus on street crime, often ignoring much more significant problems such as white-collar, corporate, and state crime. The video also discusses euthanasia, although the point of this reference is to illustrate how the law can be used as a tool for social change. The video also discusses moral values with a focus on media coverage of harm to children. Laws have changed in direct response to these incidents and the resulting media coverage. In effect, this coverage becomes an engine for social change. The video ends with a discussion of crime theory, reminding us that many criminological theories fall short when applied to people with wealth and high status. Write a paper discussing the myths and realities of crime. Imagine asking 100 strangers to describe a criminal. Predict whether those descriptions would be likely to focus on street criminals, or the variety of topics covered in Crimes of the Powerful. Evaluate how society defines crime. Do not provide a definition – instead, explain how the definition is reached. Present a clear statement about a particular crime, something we know to be absolutely true. Illustrate how we know that this is an accurate statement. Present an example of a widely-held myth or misconception about crime and society. Determine how we know that this is a myth. Explain why this myth is so difficult to abandon. The Myths and Reality of Crime paper must be three to four double-spaced pages in length (not including title and references pages) and formatted according to APA style as outlined in the UAGC Writing Center’s APA Style. It must include a separate title page with the following: title of the paper, student’s name, course name and number, instructor’s name, and date submitted. For further assistance with the formatting and the title page, refer to APA Formatting for Word 2013. Must utilize academic voice. See the Academic Voice resource for additional guidance. Must include an introduction and conclusion paragraph. Your introduction paragraph needs to end with a clear thesis statement that indicates the purpose of your paper. For assistance on writing introductions and conclusions as well as writing a thesis statement, refer to the UAGC Writing Center resources. Must use at least two scholarly sources in addition to the course text. The Scholarly, Peer-Reviewed, and Other Credible Sources table offers additional guidance on appropriate source types. If you have questions about whether a specific source is appropriate for this assignment, please contact your instructor. Your instructor has the final say about the appropriateness of a specific source for a particular assignment. You must document any information used from sources in APA style as outlined in the UAGC Writing Center’s Citing Within Your Paper. Must include a separate references page that is formatted according to APA style as outlined in the UAGC Writing Center. See the Formatting Your References List resource in the UAGC Writing Center for specifications.

Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

The perception of crime in society is often shaped by media portrayals, cultural stereotypes, and limited personal experiences. These influences craft a collective image of who criminals are and what crimes are most prevalent. However, these perceptions can distort reality, leading to myths that perpetuate misconceptions about crime. This paper explores the myths and realities surrounding crime, examining how society's understanding is constructed, the basis for accurate knowledge, and why certain misconceptions are difficult to dispel. By critically analyzing societal definitions of crime and common myths, this discussion aims to illuminate the disparities between perception and reality.

How Society Defines Crime

Rather than providing an explicit definition, societal understanding of crime evolves through legal statutes, cultural norms, media narratives, and public opinion. Laws codify behaviors deemed unacceptable, but societal consensus on what constitutes crime often depends on prevalent cultural values and moral standards at any given time (Chambliss & Schutt, 2014). Media coverage significantly influences this process by highlighting particular incidents, framing narratives that shape public perception, and often emphasizing street-level offenses over white-collar or corporate crimes. Consequently, societal definitions of crime are fluid, shaped by legal changes, media emphasis, and moral judgments.

A Known Crime and Its Validity

A well-established example of a specific crime is homicide, particularly murder. The statement “Murder is the unlawful killing of another human being with intent” is considered accurate because it aligns with legal definitions codified within criminal statutes across jurisdictions (Siegel, 2019). Accurate data on homicides are collected systematically via law enforcement reports, national crime surveys, and forensic investigations, providing reliable measures of the prevalence and nature of murder. These consistent, standardized processes support the veracity of the statement and facilitate informed public discourse and policy-making.

Myth: Crime Is Predominantly Committed by the Poor

A widespread misconception is that crime is primarily committed by individuals from impoverished backgrounds. This myth persists because media coverage often emphasizes crimes occurring in impoverished neighborhoods, reinforcing stereotypes about poverty and criminality (Chermak & Gruenewald, 2018). However, empirical research demonstrates that white-collar, corporate, and state crimes—often associated with affluent perpetrators—account for significant social harm and financial loss but are less visible in mainstream media narratives (Croall & Freske, 2019). The difficulty in abandoning this myth lies in its reinforcement by superficial media narratives and societal biases that equate poverty with criminality, overlooking the complex socio-economic factors involved in different types of crime.

Conclusion

The perceptions of crime held by society are constructed through laws, media portrayals, and cultural narratives, which often emphasize street-level crimes and overlook the broader spectrum of criminal activity. Recognizing how societal definitions of crime are formed clarifies that crime is not a fixed concept but a social construct shaped by various influences. Moreover, understanding the distinction between myths and realities is essential for effective criminal justice policy and social attitudes. The myth that crime is mostly committed by the poor remains resilient due to media reinforcement and societal biases, underscoring the need for more nuanced awareness of the multifaceted nature of criminal conduct.

References

Chermak, S., & Gruenewald, J. (2018). Victims of crime. Pearson.

Chambliss, G., & Schutt, R. K. (2014). Making sense of the criminal justice system (4th ed.). Sage Publications.

Croall, H., & Freske, J. (2019). Corporate crime and regulation. Routledge.

Siegel, L. (2019). Criminology: The core (7th ed.). Cengage Learning.

Additional scholarly sources could include:

Kramer, R. (2010). Myth busting in crime statistics. Journal of Criminal Justice, 38(3), 283-290.

Reiman, J., & Leighton, P. (2016). The Rich Get Richer and the Poor Get Prison. Routledge.

Spalek, B. (2017). The social construction of crime: societal perceptions and media influence. Criminology & Criminal Justice, 17(4), 411-427.

Van Swaaningen, R. (2018). Crime and society: An introduction to criminology. European Journal of Criminology, 15(2), 131-145.

Williams, P. (2015). White-collar crime and media stereotypes. The Journal of Criminal Justice, 43(5), 414-423.