Victimization Portrayals on Popular Crime Shows & Comparisons to the NCVS

• Published in: Victims & offenders 2024-02, Vol.19 (2), p.208-231
• Main Author: Whiteford, Sarah G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Access; Age; Crime; crime show; Criminal investigations; Drama; Ethnicity; Gender; Law enforcement; Marital status; media portrayal; NCVS; Occupations; Offenders; Popularity; Race; Television; Time; Victim offender relations; Victimization; Victims
• ISSN: 1556-4886; 1556-4991
• DOI: 10.1080/15564886.2022.2112639

Crime shows have been airing on television for over 70 years and we continuously find said shows to have high rates of viewership. But how accurate are the portrayals depicted in said shows? This research analyzes crime show drama portrayals of victimization across two time periods by analyzing 270 episodes from 11 different crime drama television series in which a clear criminal event is followed by a law enforcement investigation. Shows were chosen at Time 1 for inclusion based on popularity, longevity, accessibility, and recency; Time 2 data included a 5-year follow-up to any of the Time 1 shows still in production. Demographics and background characteristics of victims are analyzed including gender, age, race/ethnicity, occupation, military/law enforcement affiliation, parental/marital status, and prior victimization. Additionally, the relationship between offender and victim, whether the victimization was actually portrayed in the show, whether the victim was held captive, and if the victim ultimately survived or died are also addressed. Findings are discussed in comparison to what previous research from the National Crime Victimization Survey indicates actual victimization patterns to be.