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38 Law & Psychol. Rev. 97 (2014)
Ripped from the Headlines: Juror Perceptions in the Law and Order Era

handle is hein.journals/lpsyr38 and id is 107 raw text is: RIPPED FROM THE HEADLINES: JUROR PERCEPTIONS IN THE LA W & ORDER ERA Adam B. Shniderman* ABSTRACT Film and Media Studies scholars have long claimed that television is a primary source of information about the criminal justice system for most Americans. These scholars have also found that television can significantly impact viewers' perceptions of the world. In the last decade, Jerry Bruckheimer's CSI: Crime Scene Investigation has been the subject of significant scrutiny. Many have claimed that CSI's highly dramatized, romanticized, and generally unrealistic portrayal of forensic science and the investigative process has significantly altered juror expectations, and this portrayal poses a challenge for lawyers trying criminal cases. The concept has been discussed in nearly 400 news articles and more than 100 academic journal articles. Despite all of this attention paid to CSI, the impact of Law & Order on jurors' perceptions of the criminal justice system has been largely overlooked. This article analyzes the dominant narrative in the Law & Order franchise, demonstrating that the show is rooted in Packer's crime-control model. The article discusses the various techniques the Law & Order franchise employs to construct that narrative and to shape our views through the use of basic psychological principles, detailed character backstories, casting choices for various characters, and dialogue and specific plot events. The article considers the potential impact of this narrative on peoples', and particularly jurors', perceptions of various aspects of criminal investigations and the justice system, including interrogation techniques, eyewitness identification and lineup procedures, and the presumption of innocence. Finally, the article makes suggestions forfuture research. * Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice, Texas Christian University (Starting Fall 2014). Ph.D. Criminology, Law and Society, University of California, Irvine; M.A. University of California, Irvine; B.A. Amherst College.

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