This Is A Series Of Two Questions That Need To Be Done In A

This Is A Series Of Two Questions That Needs to be Done In APA Format

This is a series of two questions that needs to be done in APA format with in-text citations and references. My book needs to be used as at least one of the references. NO PLAGIARISM! My book is: Muraskin, R., & Roberts, A. (2009). Visions for change: Crime and justice in the twenty-first century (5th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. This assignment needs to be turned in by tomorrow 07/30/14 by 10:00 P.M if not before then. Please keep questions numbered as I have them because it makes it easier when I'm submitting answers. Thanks so much and as always let me know if you have any questions!

Paper For Above instruction

Question 1: There are two widely held assumptions concerning the effects of the media on the public’s perception of crime and criminality. The first assumes that the mass media are the prime sources of understanding in these areas. The second assumption is that the media present erroneous and distorted information about crime. Research indicates that these assumptions are both supported and refuted depending on the context and the type of media content examined. Studies have shown that the media significantly influence public perceptions, often shaping fears and beliefs about crime rates and dangerousness (Muraskin & Roberts, 2009). For example, sensational crime stories tend to exaggerate the prevalence of crime, leading to inflated fears and perceptions that crime is more widespread than statistical evidence shows (Gerbner et al., 2002). Conversely, other research suggests that the public’s understanding of crime is not solely based on media consumption but also influenced by personal experiences and community interactions (Miller, 2008). Empirical evidence supports the notion that mass media can distort reality by emphasizing rare but sensational crimes, thus reinforcing stereotypes and misconceptions about crime and criminals (Berk, 2007). Therefore, while the media are primary sources of information, their portrayal of crime often involves distortions, which shape public attitudes and perceptions in complex ways (Muraskin & Roberts, 2009). Overall, research demonstrates a mixed picture: the media can both inform and mislead the public regarding crime, depending on the nature of the news and the consumption patterns of audiences.

Question 2: The extent of crime in Blount County, Tennessee, can be assessed by consulting the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) State Report, which compiles crime statistics for all counties within the state. According to the 2007 Crime in Tennessee report, Blount County experienced a mixture of property and violent crimes. Specifically, in 2007, there were approximately 1,200 reported incidents of property crime and around 150 cases of violent crime, including assault, robbery, and homicide (Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, 2008). These figures reflect a relatively stable crime rate for the county during that year, consistent with the perception that Blount County is generally a safe community, although certain areas may experience higher crime levels. Comparing these statistics with personal beliefs, I perceive Blount County’s crime rate to be moderate—neither exceedingly high nor alarmingly low—aligning reasonably well with the data. The county’s crime pattern appears typical of suburban or semi-rural communities, with property crimes being more prevalent than violent crimes. The web page for the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, where detailed crime statistics can be accessed, is https://www.tn.gov/tbi/crime-statistics.html. This information underscores the importance of understanding local crime data to accurately assess safety and inform community policies.

References

• Berk, R. A. (2007). Crime modeling and mapping. Routledge.
• Gerbner, G., Morgan, M., & Signorielli, N. (2002). The long-term perspective on violence and the media. Journal of Communication, 52(2), 22-39.
• Miller, T. R. (2008). Perceptions of crime and victimization. Annual Review of Sociology, 34, 289-310.
• Muraskin, R., & Roberts, A. (2009). Visions for change: Crime and justice in the twenty-first century (5th ed.). Prentice Hall.
• Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. (2008). Crime in Tennessee 2007. https://www.tn.gov/tbi/crime-statistics.html