Fallacies About Crime (From Crime & Justice in America: Present Realities and Future Prospects, Second Edition, P 42-60, 2002, Wilson R. Palacios, Paul F. Cromwell, and Roger G. Dunham, eds. -- NCJ-188466)

• NCJ Number: 188469
• Author(s): Marcus Felson
• Date Published: 2002
• Length: 19 pages
• Sale Source: Prentice-Hall, Inc
• Publication Format: Book (Softbound)
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Marcus Felson, Crime in Everyday Life, Thousand Oaks, California, Forge Press, pp. 1-22

Annotation

This chapter identifies 10 of the common misunderstandings and erroneous views that most Americans hold about crime and punishment.

Abstract

One of the fallacies about crime is the "dramatic fallacy," based largely in the portrayals of crime on television "cop shows." The kinds of crime featured on such shows include romantic murders by jealous lovers, shoot-outs between felons and police officers, and fiendishly clever types of murder. These portrayals, however, provide an accurate picture of crime in general and even murder. Police statistics, victimization statistics, and self-report crime surveys indicate that the kinds of violent and injurious crimes portrayed on television and even in the news media are rare and are greatly outnumbered by minor crimes. Another fallacy is the "cops-and-courts" fallacy, which holds that the police, courts, and prisons are the key actors in crime control and prevention. In truth, most crimes are not known to the police; and for those that are, the vast majority result in no arrest, and most arrests do not lead to trial or a guilty plea. Of cases that get to trial, most do not result in incarceration. The false image of crime and criminals, leads to the "not-me" fallacy. This fallacy held by most citizens is that criminals form a distinct and different group in society, clearly separated from the law-abiding. The fact is that all citizens have the potential for committing crimes under particular circumstances. Other fallacies pertain to the false beliefs that youth are too young to harbor criminal thoughts and intent; that most criminals are skilled and ingenious at committing crimes; that organized crime is an efficient and pervasive network of skilled criminals who operate criminal enterprises as efficient businesses; that juvenile gangs are pervasive and ruthless; that crime stems directly from adverse socioeconomic conditions; that crime can be reduced by a multiplicity of political agendas; and that the crime rate is directly related to the degree of moral training received by citizens. 4 notes and 66 references