Is true crime TV helping or harming the justice system? Does the genre cause more harm than good? This article explores the both the negative and positive impacts of true crime TV on society and the justice system they live with.
Are True Crime TV Shows Helping or Harming the Justice System? Its Impact on Society
True Crime TV shows may have documented some of the most heinous crimes in history, but does it actually do more harm than good to the existing criminal justice system?
From unclosed cases on podcasts to streamable shows, how far have True Crime TV shows impacted how our society functions?
Well, apart from the obsession with satisfying the viewers' curiosities, True Crime TV helped people become more vigilant and proactive in risky situations.
Witnessing how a tragedy unfolded in such cases allows True Crime watchers to take control of the potential harm before they encounter it themselves. At best, they "help expose injustices and right wrongs."
The catch? Most of the newest and most recent True Crime shows do not share the same goal of delivering the right message or lessons — they run more depending on the views and money the entertainment industry brings to the table.
This is actually one of the most concerning aspects behind these shows, according to criminal defense attorney Adam Banner, "You don't want to take away the positive ramifications that putting that spotlight on a case can bring."
However, he doesn't shy away from stating the contradicting implication when the case does get brought to light, "But you also don't want to give off the impression that this is how our justice system works."
In Banner's case, the justice system does not depend on "enough cameras and microphones on a case" before they save somebody off death row.
To make matters even more complicated, the reception of True Crime shows also leans on the audience's reaction to it.
The Positive and Negative Consequences of True Crime Shows
Even though docuseries such as Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, Griselda, and The Menendez Brothers did highlight the untold side of their true stories, they also brought harm to social media platforms.
The Dahmer Story, for example, didn't gain the favor of the deceased victim's families, especially when the show didn't ask for permission before producing their stories for media consumption.
However, stories such as Griselda and The Menendez Brothers had the opposite effect.
They may have informed the real motive behind their crimes and humanized the main culprits but they also managed to address they do know they deserve to be put behind bars for what they did.
Overall, while True Crime TV does seem to be committed to exposing the truth behind criminal cases, the genre has yet to find the balance it needs to ascertain its main purpose to reveal the truth, not to entertain the public.
How do you think True Crime shows shaped our society today? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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