Mythology of Crime & Criminal Justice

Members of the media, politicians and criminal justice bureaucrats aid in perpetuating myths about crime.

There are many pervasive beliefs that exist in the criminal justice system. Widespread views about crime and crime-related issues have been, in many instances, distorted into myths that have become commonplace throughout society.

Perpetuating Myths

As pointed out in "The Mythology of Crime and Criminal Justice," the media, politicians and criminal justice bureaucrats often perpetuate the growth of crime myths. Rarely do members of the media report petty crime. Rather, members of the press tend to focus solely on violent crime, distorting the perception of crime statistics. In addition, politicians and those working within the criminal justice system cite interpretations of crime-related data in a manner that is beneficial to their political and work-related goals, authors Victor E. Kappeler, Mark Blumberg and Gary Potter say.

Actualities

Crime such as theft, murder and assault is decreasing. According to the authors of "The Mythology of Crime and Criminal Justice," crime waves are a fabrication by various groups of people that cite and report data in a way befitting their individual needs. They say that most crime is committed "in social settings by unarmed people who are relatives, friends and acquaintances of the victims," very little of which results in serious injury.

White-collar crime

Although it is a common misconception, white-collar crime is a greater hazard to the public than street crime. The authors of "The Mythology of Crime and Criminal Justice" illustrate that white-collar crimes such as fraud, unsafe products and workplaces, bribery and environmental pollution cause much greater damage and cost to society than do violent crimes.

Bias

The distortion of data and the over-reporting of violent crime create a bias against the poor and minority groups. This bias translates into the many myths regarded so often as fact, says authors Kappeler, Blumberg and Potter.

References

• The Mythology of Crime and Criminal Justice, 3rd Edition; Victor E. Kappeler, Mark Blumberg and Gary Potter; 2000