Kort-Butler, Habecker published in Criminal Justice Review

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Thu, 06/15/2017 - 09:16

How is media consumption connected to attitudes about crime and justice?

Associate professor Lisa Kort-Butler and postdoctoral scholar Patrick Habecker conducted a study that extended prior research by considering the effects of media, victimization, and network experiences on attitudes about crime and justice.

550 Nebraskans were asked about their social networks; beliefs about media reliability; use of newspaper and news on TV, radio, and the Internet; and exposure to violence on TV, movies, and the Internet.

Results indicated that viewing TV violence predicted worry and anger about crime. Believing the media are a reliable source of information about crime predicted more anger and more support for the justice system. The results show that media framing and media consumption influence attitudes about crime, as do certain real-world experiences.