How Important is the Media in the Investigation of Serious Crime - Research Paper Example

The importance of media in the investigation of serious crimes Introduction An investigation refers to the patient, procedural inquiry or scrutiny. It is a cautious analysis and evidence-based recording of a legal review. On the other hand, a criminal investigation is a process of ascertaining, collecting, organizing, identifying, and making presentations to find out the particular happenings and the persons responsible (Hess & Orthmann, 2010, p.6). On the other hand, media refers to the channels of communication that provide entertainment, news, promotional messages, and data. The media includes print media, out-of-home media, broadcast media, and social media. Investigation of crime requires a deeper thinking and reasoning. In the contemporary society, the investigators’ principal objective is to amass information and facts pertaining to the crime circumstance. The underlying goal is accomplished by the collection of accurate data in response to a particular crime or act that contravenes the law. Criminal investigation process involves initial descriptive steps where the investigator gives an in-depth description of the things and people that are present in the crime scene without making inferences concerning the crime or the person present. Consequently, the investigator then gathers evidences, documents, and reviews every element while analyzing all particulars regarding the crime scene cautiously and categorically (Palmiotto, 2013, p.4, 5). In the instances of serious crime, recital of the police as detectives in most cases remains pronounced to the public. The figurative role of the Corps in the war against crime remains upheld for scrutiny and valued by the media besides being recognizable by the previous police agents. These police agents can find employment within private media organizations whose work is to ensure that there is enhanced delivery of “inside track.” Additionally, the corps read, views, and pay attention to audiences in ascertaining the origin and significance of particular criminal occurrences. Serious crime investigation concerning the media has become a very important component. The circumstance has remained identified and accredited by Home Office research as an essential skill needed by senior investigative officers (Newburn et al., 2007, p.160). Newburn et al (2007, p.160) ascertains that media in the presence of serious crime can be used to offer assistance to the generation of data. Further, it acts as a link between the public and the audience as a means of reporting the investigations carried out on a crime. Due to a decrease of information at hand, the police only put suspicion on the people that they regard as criminals. The situation leads to the Corps to confront unknown suspects who may turn out not to be the real crime initiators. Therefore, the police waste time, money and the other useful resources that could be helpful if targeted to the right individuals. In advanced settings, there is a use of vast data sources, which involve the government-based databases, records from third parties, and special software to recognize the convicts’ faces. Consequently, predictive analytics allow the Corps to access quickly the information about suspected criminals through keying of few queries. In this context, it is easier to identify criminals and facilitate their seizure (Ferguson, 2015, 330). Broadcast media Broadcast media finds use in offering an exclusive coverage of the press conferences. In addition, it is usable in the issuance of the explicit descriptions that help to point out the people that can help with additional inquiries relating to a criminal offense. During the press conferences, the media is a vital tool to focus on the strategies discussed in length, this is to ensure that the information reaches the public. The information guarantees awareness of the public in relation to the measures of serious crime. In Jones, Justice Sotomayor notes that, the American government through the aid of contracted representatives has immense access to the people’s information through sophisticated software and technologies of surveillance. These means of accessing the data help to analyze and aggregate it to offer vast personal information regarding crime perpetrators. In this regard, the police and other investigative agencies have maximal evidence meant to convict a potential crime instigator. The media houses can then quickly generate the pictures, publicize them and within a few moments the forces are able to identify and seizure the criminals (Gray, 2013, p747). For example, the media extensively covered a press conference addressed by the Deputy Prime Minister John Andersen in 2001. The principal was addressing the top government officials about the rates of alarming high-profile crimes. He noted that, the law enforcement agencies pursue prosecutions at the behest of the top government officials. The politicians are subjective to criminal investigation hence they should remain cautious on the activities they carry out. They should desist from propagating corruption within the state and rather pave way for investigative firms to conduct genuine evaluations. (AFP, 2015, p. 1). The media plays a decisive role in the protection of witnesses by ensuring that trust is built within the system of justice. The media emphasizes the positive actions that are taken within the field through building trust. Hence, the citizens believe in the justice system of a country concerning serious crime. When the citizenry lacks trust towards the judicial system of a nation, it becomes difficult for crimes to be reported to the security agencies. Therefore, there will be increased crime and consequently an unstable nation. On the other hand, the media may interfere with criminal prosecution by preventing some forms of criminal protection. In this context, the agencies that investigate crimes should work in coordination with the media to ensure that a balanced condition exist not to disclose the confidential information. The media also should strive to strike an understanding between the investigative agencies and the need to ensure protection of the confidential information. Therefore, it is crucial for criminal prosecution agencies to describe the necessary protocols to be observed concerning their work with the broadcast media agencies (Gluščić and Council of Europe, 2006, p.280). The mass media affects the policy makers’ behaviour and practitioners of criminal justice by the fascinating technology integrated. Policy makers remains profoundly influenced by the content displayed in the media. For example, the motion pictures, news reports, dramas that are popular in the televisions and comic books influence the thoughts of the public, the policy makers and the practitioners of justice. Essentially, the policy makers shape policies that are tailored towards the control of serious crimes depicted in the media. Indeed, the media through the movie industry has initiated profound policy changes to the enactment of vigilantes among the public and within the police forces. Further, this move has tremendously contributed to increased serious criminal investigation among the public to ensure reduced crime levels (Stevens, 2010, p. 29). Through the investigative process, the police department engages the media extensively, and in return, engagement of the public is by extension. The police use the broadcast media majorly in resolving cases and giving warnings to the public, for suspect identification, and in soliciting information from the public concerning certain unlawful acts. In this context, an interaction of the media and the public often facilitate the production of the soundbites received on the night news either in the televisions or stories in the radios. The situation provides an operational and practical utility that focuses on tangible outcomes of policing. Further, the broadcast media provides symbolic communications to the public concerning the police and the activities of policing. The situation remains enhanced by the dramas in the televisions that typically reaffirm the moral function of the police in the delivery of justice, finding the truth, and for gratification of the public duty. Examples of dramas that depict police and policing activities are many including; Wildside, Blue Heelers, and Water Rats, acted in Australia using the local police to establish stories that replicate and portray the police procedures and guidelines. The Wire of the US and The Bill of the UK show associations that exist with the Metropolitan Police Forces (Lee and McGovern, 2014, p.142, 144). Reports given by news media play a critical role in giving information to the public about a crime. For the police departments and the other investigative agencies to carry out their investigations effectively, there is need to collaborate with the media and get to understand the newsfeeds. Crime news is vital to the public but there is particular information about the crime that cannot remain publicized. For instance, in Georgia, addresses and names of crime initiators concerning rape cases are not announced (Palmiotto, 2013, p.18). Authority guards the information from the public to protect criminal invasion. These kinds of reports given out by the media help the investigative agencies to tailor their expertise towards addressing the particular crimes committed. For example, through the media the severe crimes committed within the community that may not be noticeable remains exposed to offer the law enforcement agencies a chance to start investigations. The agencies are able to rate the crimes committed and determine the kinds of specialists to use in resolving the crimes pursued. Social media Social media is a vital tool in publicizing the snapshots and explanations of the suspected crime initiator to make the public aware of the wanted criminals and to facilitate their arrest. With the new media in play and its fast provision of information on online platforms, organized gangs can easily be traceable by posting their photographs to facilitate their recognition. The systems enable the various specialists to spot crime leads, take pictures and post them on social media. Further, this will trigger a fast response by the police to curb crime and bring into book those involved in the execution of the unlawful acts. These systems have remained implemented and worked in the USA and the UK, where police have reverted to Facebook for the purposes of fighting crime. Additionally, there is evidence in the Digital Trends, a UK online magazine that vividly described how the police in Landon used social media to bring down the serious crimes. Information revealed by social networks finds use in hunting the criminals who engage in unlawful acts. Such hunt remains accomplished by specially trained personnel to unearth the suspects’ information leading to quickly focused investigations (Bain et al., 2014, p.273). For example, Bain et al (2007, p.283) note that Twitter has been in use by the Houston Police Department to enable transfer of instant information that generates leads of felonious conducts in specific neighborhoods. Instantaneous generation of information guides the fast actions of the security agencies to curb the crimes from happening or preventing severe damages. Through leveraging Facebook, the law enforcement agencies glean evidence that helps in solving crime. The police officials assess the type of information that is amongst the public, and they can then create indeterminate accounts that they use to solicit for information from the online users. In case of imminent danger, authorities can ask for private information from the hosts of the social sites directly through the subpoenas. Recent research reveals that Facebook and YouTube lead in their usage particularly for law enforcement. The LexisNexis Risk Solution conducted an online-based survey revealed that the state, federal, and local statute enforcement agencies use the social media to collect intelligence information that are crucial for investigations (Kelly, 2012, p. 1). The worldwide virtual network has profound implications on the crime victims besides those that serve them. The social media is the most rapid increasing practice used by both the offenders, victims, and the law enforcement agencies. Through this conduit, the law enforcement agencies can easily link up and share information. Victim sponsors and associated professionals also share the points of interest resulting from justice and victim-related topics. In addition, the offended and the professionals interchange ideas and information that guides the investigators to conduct safe and secret investigation that lead to the arrest of the people that commit crime (NCJRS, 2015, p. 1). The Print Media The New York Times Newspaper reported that people post and brag about crimes they commit on social media. It claimed that, nearly every week, someone commits a crime and then go confessing on the social media, brag by sharing tweets via Twitter, posts on Facebook, or share photos on Instagram. The print media in many ways is a boon for the law enforcement agencies since it gives a broad range of information regarding the services rendered. By printing this, investigating agencies can then find out the actual crimes that the people boast about and start immediate investigations (Urbina, 2015, p. 1). Newspapers These are the most popular forms of print media that are available at the newsstands, delivered at home, and are capable of reaching large numbers of people in a short while. Printing criminal information on the newspapers help the people to be aware of the situations and location where crime took place. It can also help the investigative agencies to request for more information regarding the whereabouts of the criminals. For example, by writing vivid descriptions about a criminal incident and requesting for support from the citizens can lead to disclosure of information leading to substantial evaluation, arrest, and seizure of the crime perpetrators. Newsletters Various investigative agencies may decide to develop newsletters that carry information tips about the procedures and guidelines of conducting an investigation. These newsletters can then remain circulated to the respective authorities who are reminded on the important points to take into consideration before, during, and after an investigation. These newsletters mainly cover one topic and therefore they can be suited to serious crime investigation. Feedback columns can be provided where the police officers give feedback to the lead security agencies on what they like to be discussed. For example, generating guidelines and procedures that are followed during rape cases to keep the corps posted wherever such crimes are instigated. Books Books contain major and sources of communication. There are many books including hardcover and electronic books that provide case studies, procedures, and guidelines for the police and other investigative agencies. The descriptions in these books help the concerned parties to uncover, investigate, and prosecute the perpetrators of crime. Books are also used in schools, colleges, and institutions of higher learning to instill knowledge to professionals regarding criminal investigation activities. For example, professions in the campuses such as Criminology utilize this kind of media to tailor graduates towards procedural crime investigation. Out-of-house media Posters Crime investigating bodies use posters to provide citizens with information about the crimes committed. Currently, there are new versions of online posters that allow the public to click and access information about a criminal incidence. They in most cases contain pictures of the crime doers with captions describing the incidence linked to that particular person. Links are then provided to the main message that describes the incidence. Physical posters are also used where they are mounted along the streets to warn against crime. Information can also be solicited from the public by providing contact numbers and requesting the masses to report incidences of crime. By using this kind of media, the forces are provided with information that can lead to the arrest of criminals. Therefore, it is paramount for the posters to include the contact information for reporting the occurrences. For example on the FBI website, there are snapshots of the most wanted terrorists with descriptive information seeking identification from the public (FBI, 2015, p. 1). Billboards These remain mounted on the streets and commonly used for market advertising. On the other hand, they can be of use to the crime investigating agencies by placing the most wanted criminals’ photographs to help the public identify and offer feedback reports about their hiding locations. Electronic billboards used by security agencies display information about the criminals to facilitate their arrest. For example, placing the names and snapshots of the most wanted terrorist by the FBI on the street billboards can greatly enhance their identification and consequent arrest. Banner displays They are important media to pass information about crimes committed by the offenders. Banner displays help the crime investigators by acting as a whistleblower to the crimes committed. The investigative agencies can also use this type of media to warn the inhabitants about crimes committed and their consequences. For example, in London the National Fraud Intelligence is using many millions to produce banners that identify gangs of organized crime, serial offenders, and emerging types of crime. The situation helps the criminal investigating agencies to focus more on this kind of cases to bring the offenders to the limelight. The United States government uses banners on government computer systems to warn unauthorized users about the consequences of illegal access. The banners on the systems do not prevent the illegal users from accessing the systems but rather facilitate their prosecution. If there is failure to notify the public about the repercussions of an illegal access, it will be difficult to prosecute the illegal users despite the damage caused to the system (NOAA, 2015, p. 1). Conclusion The advice rendered to the media by trained staff emanating from the police force assists them in supporting the crimes that are under investigation. Investigations of major crimes and those incidents referring to high profile mostly attract the media’s interest. Investigators find it easy to organize specialist resources and materials from their media departments to offer support to such kind of cases. The strategies of keeping the story in the media despite the waging interests facilitate publicity, and this happens in case of serious crimes that concern vast investigations. Additionally, the media can find use in reducing the fear that may exist within the public. The situation will help in the reduction of tension within communities and inform the public that the masterminds of the crimes are in custody or the crime scene is under the control of the police and there is no need of tension (Stelfox, 2009, p.111). In order to decipher crimes, the corps requires vivid information from the public, the community is crucial when it comes to investigating information that regard serious crimes. Achieving optimal information collection from the public, the police need to incorporate the media. For instance, the media can remain used to appeal to the masses to reveal information that will help the Corps in resolving serious crimes. The media is important in informing the public about the occurrence of a crime and request for identification of witnesses. After such attainment, the Corps can garner more information related to the incidences under investigation. For example, the media programs such as “reality TV” and Crimewatch are founded on the idea relating to police media collaboration to fight serious crime. In this case, appeals made to the masses to come forward and offer information on suspected offences (Marsh, 2011). Bibliography Australian Federal Police (AFP). \2015. Police Investigations of Politically Sensitive or High Profile Crime. Web. April 16, 2015. 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