Essay Example on Social Media and TV: How They Impact Criminal Justice in the Digital Era

In this digital era, the media is continuously increasing its effect on audiences around the globe. One area that has rapidly developed in the past is social media and television. Adding services such as Facebook and Twitter, the media is able to reach more consumers and so is its effect on the public especially the criminal justice system. In the digital era of social media like facebook, twitter and other forms of communication like the television and the internet, more people have access to justice proceedings and hence ultimately public opinion influences justice.

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The media depicts criminal officials as corrupt, inept and inefficient. Images of how these criminal officials have portrayed changes drastically over the years. False images of these officials can be destructive to both the officials and the public they are supposed to serve (Schneider, 2016). Many criminal officials have been depicted both disapprovingly and positively, dependent on the events of the society at the time. Such images are mainly powerful for persons who have no or little touch with criminal justice system-since such individuals may depend on media both conventional and new to create their opinions of criminal justice.

Trial lawyers are regular in television and film, as they can show in any genre. Typically in dramas, trial lawyers are depicted as prosecutors who are passionate about winning a case 'they do anything' (Johnson, Warren, Farrell, & Bobo, 2015). This normally includes taking illegal actions as long as the criminal is not found guilty and they earn enormous fees. They are also depicted to be gluttonous and to exploit other persons as well as their clients in comedies. Lawyers are depicted as corrupt in films and movies (Hayes, & Luther, 2018). They frequently bribe the jury and some produce fake evidence while others destroy the actual evidence to suit their needs. Forging and changing documents is also quite popular.

The media, especially movies, rarely show the public any lawyers who dedicate their profession to win and protect the poor and the oppressed. Such lawyers devote to the conservation of social rights and social liberties-lawyers that work hard to rummage out corruption and fraud and those who take on customers and defend them with no pay as they believe defending a client is their first job (Schneider, 2016). In the past attorneys were represented as sincere, ethical persons, however, the increase of separation and judgment of the OJ Simpson tryout tarnished the lawyer's image. Divorce forces many couples to contact lawyers, a factor which made them be viewed as defeatist.

The OJ Simpson case made the society realize lawyers can set free suspects among whom it is clear to the public that they are guilty. Many genres of films have portrayed lawyers as contenders of fake evidence (Surette, 2015). The media mostly portrays police officers as stupid, unskilled, cruel and authoritative, dirty police officers, or a regular citizen who ascends in positions honorably or dishonorably. Today, the real reporting of cops on the news is concealing the marginalized persons. The stories being covered have a similar consequence. Nevertheless, police officers are portrayed positively or negatively on the few cases being covered. Individuals have a high possibility of having real contact with cops, thus their first insight about the police can outline how communication occurs (Joyce, 2001). This can result in the creation of various labels which can nourish incorrect opinions to the public.

When it comes to correctional officials, the media has depicted them plainly, but they are typically portrayed as cruel and rude (Johnson, 2015). They are at the forefront in helping prisoners to sneak illegal products such as drugs, unfair penalization, and even intimidation prisoners so that they can do for them favors. Considering the fact that the criminal justice profession is one where the majority of people in the society will by no means come into contact with all of these officials- media depiction of correctional officers has a powerful impact on the society.

The above depictions of the criminal justice system are very essential, as they outline the society approach toward the criminal justice system. False depictions of these professionals result in typecasting and fake opinions of the globe, which can be risky (Shipley, 2014).

Genres of media Television, film, and social media have become very popular ways of connecting in the world. The fame of digital media sites like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Blogs, and LinkedIn continues to change the approach of society towards the criminal justice system. They have distorted the way we recognize and encounter crime and persecution.

Even though social media is comparatively new, it has ensured information can be received promptly (Surette, 2015). The internet has mixed various forms of media and ensured everything is easily accessible. The fast widespread data has been central in the spread of news as they occur. Both imaginary depictions and real news coverage can be spread around, in small videos which can simply be taken out of context. This mixed with political posters of publications can distort the truth and even create false stereotypes.

In the past, the society formed an opinion about transgression from information published on the media and events that happened within it. But social media today has greatly impacted criminal justices agencies both in positive and negative ways especially in solving crimes (Joyce, 2001). Therefore, like many developments in communication technology, the new media has had good and bad effects when it comes to connecting with the criminal justice system.

Social media has provided the cops' access to the public. One can converse in real time with the police about emerging issues using Facebook, Instagram or any other social media site. This is very valuable especially during a crisis. Social media has turned out to be an essential instrument in law enforcement case analysis. For instance, the post of CCTV recording of Melbourne woman Jill Meagher's final instants through Facebook page and YouTube helped capturing the murder (Johnson, 2015). Besides digital media broadcasting of illegal trials has brought about precision to criminal dealings.

Whereas social media live representations help in achieving transparent justice, there are worries about the performance. Social media platforms have been exploited to impede 'digital' offenses like vengeance porn, and enhancing campaigns for a crueler penalty (Erbschloe, 2019). Criminals are also able to use an individual's digital media platforms to track possible victims and their belongings- as was the case of American celebrity, Kim Kardashian's robbery.

Today, digital media has altered the way criminal behavior is posted. Offenders can be seen on social media bragging about their unlawful deeds to their associates and online supporters (Johnson, 2015). Also detectives, who are charged with the duty to recognize crime suspects, mostly rely on digital media sites - which can act as destruction for ruling implementation. Even worse innocent people could be accused of unfairly.

Officials in the criminal justice system are occasionally tried by people on social media. Activities on these digital media sites can create a threat to lawyers and the freedom to an honest trial via events such as posting suspect photos before a reflection, hate groups formation and jury and social media being able to give their thoughts online (Shipley & Bowker, 2014). For instance, the Victoria police in Meagher case who used their Facebook account to inform the community on the significance of such practices. Moreover, web gag was imposed on digital media by a judge who concealed data which could have influenced the assessment.

New media has as well been exploited as an instrument for victim quilting as it happens during Kim Kardashian's robbery. Just after Kim Kardashian robbery, some Twitter and Facebook consumers posted 'What she deserves' while some discussed that maybe after the incidence she could cover herself up. Moreover, social media can expose family members, friends, and even followers to secondary discrimination.

Public opinions about the criminal justice system play an important role in society. The rank of assurance can transform the hold up for the criminal justice system and their policies. Value for the criminal system and the social perception are intimately tied (Hayes & Luther, 2018). The society's perception is widely linked with force to transform crime guidelines, more so if the chances of the crime occurrence are high. Society opinions can depict essential laws and guidelines, even though the community perception is not an exact image of the criminal justice system reality.

Overall, as new media evolve and new concerns arise, digital media will keep providing both hiccups and good chances for the criminal justice office holders as well as the system itself. It will also alter the way society views and involves crime matters and discrimination. But, the call for bans and boundaries to digital media is doubtful to bear a positive outcome. The new media and part of old media is here and will stay, therefore there is need to understand the situation take advantage of the benefits, and avert or reduce the negative impact in link to crime and the criminal justice system.

References

Schneider, C. J. (2016). Policing and social media: Social control in an era of new media.

Hayes, R. M., & Luther, K. (2018). #Crime: Social media, crime, and the criminal legal system

Johnson, D., Warren, P. Y., Farrell, A., & Bobo, L. D. (2015). Deadly injustice: Trayvon Martin, race, and the criminal justice system.Surette, R. (2015). Media, crime, and criminal justice: Images, realities, and policies.

Joyce, P. (2001). Crime and the criminal justice system. Liverpool: Liverpool University

Press.Erbschloe, M. (2019). Extremist propaganda in social media: A threat to homeland security.

Shipley, T. G., & Bowker, A. (2014). Investigating internet crimes: An introduction to solving crimes in cyberspace. Waltham, MA: Syngress.