Mediated Crime Control

Mediated crime control is a technique for controlling crime that most of the public will likely never give a second thought to. Law enforcement can only do so much to prevent and combat crime so they turn to other entities for help. Every time people turn on a television, radio, or log on to the internet they are simultaneously bombarded with mediated messages on crime or other political issues. Crime and punishment have always been centered in the American press, as well as, in the forefront of its consumers’ minds. Coverage is particularly widespread and often mixed with stories that do not even relate to “news”. Even as children, our cartoons and programming for the younger generations have lessons slipped into them that attempt to influence

Mediated crime control works by sensationalizing problems in society and growing irrational fears. People are much more likely to be “up in arms” about drugs or street violence when they are under a veil of ignorance that suggests them, or someone close to them, could be the next victim. In addition to violence and drugs, mediated crime control frequently places focus on the youth. Not only do these groups incorporate crime control into children’s programming with celebrities, star athletes, and fictional heroes, they also launch public service announcements that give parents the impression that their sons and daughters could be in danger. Almost everyone has seen a commercial at some point in their life that depicts the concept of “stranger danger”, as if in reality there are dozens of pedophiles cruising around local playgrounds on a regular basis in precarious minivans offering youngsters

That’s the most unfavorable element of these methods of crime control. They are usually short, simple, and memorable, the producers’ objective for these scenes is to shock, not enlighten or add wisdom. Once one subject is associated with another subject, the mediators repeat the message to reinforce it and further groom their propositions in the viewers’ minds. Children resonate more effectively with people because they are the classic example of innocence in society. Adults understand who will resume the legacy when their time is up, children are their hope for the future generations, to many Americans the preservation of the youth is our number one