Presenter
Jelena Vazquez
Document Type
Poster
Publication Date
2025
Abstract
Crime television shows portray a certain image of police officers that can either hurt or improve their public image. This study explored the evolution of the portrayal of law enforcement in fictional television shows compared to real world work. The investigator’s primary research was to watch two episodes from six different crime series and analyze how each show portrayed homicide and kidnapping cases. Secondary research was to interview police officers on how cases, like those depicted in the shows, are truly investigated and solved. The findings suggest that crime shows often mislead audiences and skew the public’s opinion of police officers. In these shows, gender demographics in law enforcement are often unbalanced. They portray the officers as heroes who can do it all, capable of solving crimes in one day. However, the interviewed officers revealed that real cases can take anywhere from several months to over a year to solve. The investigations in television are straightforward, ignoring the tedious work of law enforcement. Technology does not produce high speed answers, as forensic analysis can take weeks to complete. Criminal investigations take months to go through the legal system, from gathering evidence to conducting interviews. Investigators often work on multiple cases simultaneously and often work with specialists who help investigate and solve the case.
Faculty Mentor
Barbara L. Frazier, LP.D.
Academic Discipline
College of Arts & Sciences
Repository Citation
Vazquez, Jelena, "The Disconnect Between Real Policing and Television" (2025). Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium. 216.
https://scholarsarchive.jwu.edu/innov_symposium/216
