Mb. Oliver, PORTRAYALS OF CRIME, RACE, AND AGGRESSION IN REALITY-BASED POLICE SHOWS - A CONTENT-ANALYSIS, Journal of broadcasting & electronic media, 38(2), 1994, pp. 179-192
A content analysis of ''reality-based'' police shows (e.g., Cops) was
conducted to explore portrayals of crime, race, and aggression. Violen
t crime was overrepresented in the programs as was the percentage of c
rimes that were portrayed as solved. White characters were more likely
to be portrayed as police officers than criminal suspects, whereas bl
ack and Hispanic characters were more likely to be portrayed as crimin
al suspects than police officers. Police officers were generally more
likely to engage in aggressive behaviors than were criminal suspects,
and black and Hispanic criminal suspects were more likely than white c
riminal suspects to be the recipient of unarmed physical aggression by
police officers.