Member of The Justice System Essay
For this week’s assignment, you will watch any reality-based television program and focus on the way the victims are portrayed.
Note, the program must not be fictional in nature, rather a reality-based program or documentary.
Pay specific attention to instances of victim blaming in the show by any character, whether a member of the justice system or not.
Language that suggests victim blaming includes phrases like, “You should have known better,” “You should have done something to stop it,” or “How could you be so stupid?”
Next, provide a summary of the program that you watched, the circumstances of the crime(s) involved, and what you observed.
Some specific questions to consider:
- Did the victim precipitate the crime in any way? How?
- Do the police appear sympathetic towards the victim?
- Does the language used by the police towards the victim suggest that they believe the victim contributed to the crime?
- Could the victim interpret this behavior by the police as being blamed for the crime?
- How do the victim’s family and friends treat the victim?
- Do friends or family members appear to blame the victim for the crime?
- How does this affect the victim?
Answer:
For this assignment, I watched an episode of “Forensic Files,” a documentary-style television series that examines real-life criminal cases and the forensic science used to solve them. The specific episode I focused on involved a young woman who was the victim of a violent assault in her own home.
In this case, the victim did not precipitate the crime in any way. She was at home alone when an intruder broke in and attacked her. The assault resulted in serious physical injuries and emotional trauma for the victim.
Throughout the episode, the police investigators appeared sympathetic towards the victim. They conducted a thorough investigation and worked diligently to gather evidence that would lead to the perpetrator’s arrest and conviction. However, there were instances where the language used by the police towards the victim could be interpreted as suggesting that they believed she contributed to the crime. For example, during interviews with the victim, detectives asked questions about her lifestyle and whether she had taken any precautions to prevent the attack. While these questions may have been intended to gather information for the investigation, they could also be perceived as implying that the victim was partially responsible for what happened to her.
The victim’s family and friends were supportive and empathetic towards her throughout the episode. They expressed concern for her well-being and offered emotional support as she struggled to cope with the aftermath of the assault. However, there were no instances where family or friends appeared to blame the victim for the crime.
Overall, while the police investigators appeared sympathetic towards the victim, there were moments where the language used could be interpreted as victim-blaming. This could potentially affect the victim’s perception of the criminal justice system and her own role in the crime, adding to the emotional burden she already carries as a result of the assault.
