AC1.5 Impact of Media representations on public perception of crime: Stereotyping/Levels of response/priorities

What is a stereotype?

• A accurate belief about an individual or group based on fact and some conjecture.

• A fixed belief about an individual or group based on prejudices, ignorance or exaggerated factors.

What did Aaron Cicourel (1968) mean by typifications, when talking about crime?

• The way in which they investigate a crime by using accurate descriptions of the perpetrators.

• The stereotypes and expectations regarding criminals informed by prejudice, ignorance or bias.

Which of these are examples of Cicourel (1968) typifications? (choose four)

• Lower class

• BAME

• Male

• Northern

• Poor educational record

Pearson (1983) identified stereotyping in tabloids in response to the riots in 1981- which group was blamed?

• Young uneducated working class males.

• The black community

• Northerners

• The Scots

What does levels of response to crime and types of punishment mean? (choose two)

• The media influences the response by police and courts to crime.

• The police watch the news and this alerts them to events they should inverstigate.

• Due to the media influence defendants can receive higher sentences,

What could be a negative consequence of criminal stereotyping of certain groups? (choose three)

• The police might overlook criminals who do not fit the typifications.

• The police might end up catching too many criminals.

• Certain groups (such as teenage boys/BAME) may be unfairly victimised.

• Could lead to a self fulfilling prophecy as groups act to the label/stereotype.

How long did one 22 year old student get for stealing water during the London Riots?

• 2 months.

• 4 months.

• 6 months.

How much longer was the sentencing issued during the riots compared to average, as stated by the Guardian newspaper?

• 20%

• 25%

• 30%

• 50%

What was the percentage of cases heard by Magistrates to end in custodial sentence during the riots (up from the usual 2%)?

• 10%

• 70%

Paul Mendelle QC described the sentencing as a consequence of; (choose two)

• just and right.

• consequence of courts getting caught up in the media hysteria.

• The government and courts being unduly influenced by the media.