NCJ Number
15416
Journal
CRIME PREVENTION REVIEW Volume: 1 Issue: 2 Dated: (JANUARY 1974) Pages: 1-10
Date Published
1974
Length
10 pages
Annotation
AN OVERVIEW OF AMERICAN SUPER-HEROES AND CRIME-FIGHTERS INVENTED BY THE MEDIA, EMPHASIZING THAT CRIME PREVENTION WILL BE IMPEDED IF DECISION MAKERS DETERMINE LAW ENFORCEMENT NEEDS BASED ON CARTOON MYTHOLOGIES.
Abstract
THE ORIGINS OF THE MEDIA SUPER CRIME-FIGHTERS, FROM CHESTER GOULD'S DICK TRACY TO TELEVISION CRIME-FIGHTERS IS TRACED. SEVERAL BASIC CONCEPTS ABOUT CRIME AND LAW ENFORCEMENT WHICH ARE FOSTERED BY THESE MEDIA INVENTIONS ARE LISTED. THESE INCLUDE THE IDEA THAT THE CRIME-FIGHTER IS NO MERE MORTAL, BUT RATHER A SUPER CRIME-FIGHTER, THAT THE CRIMINAL IS DISTINCTIVE, UNIQUE, READILY IDENTIFIABLE AND DIFFERENT, AND THAT THE BEST WAY TO STAMP OUT CRIME IS THROUGH THE USE OF GIMMICKS AND HARDWARE, OTHER MEDIA CONCEPTS ARE THAT GOOD ALWAYS TRIUMPHS OVER EVIL, THAT MINORITIES MAY FIGHT CRIME ONLY IN SUPPORTING ROLES, THAT VIOLENCE IS CENTRAL TO THE CRIME PROBLEM, AND THAT OPERATING OUTSIDE THE LAW IS APPROPRIATE IN DEALING WITH MAJOR CRIMES AND CRIMINALS. THE AUTHOR STATES THAT TO THE EXTENT THE PUBLIC BELIEVES THESE THEMES, THE CHANCES OF MEETING THE CHALLENGE OF CRIME PREVENTION ARE REDUCED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)