Justice for all?

After a long hard day of work, what do you like to do? Read a book? Table a bubble bath? Watch TV?

Chances are, your answer probably included kicking back with the remote every once in a while. And when you do, what do you typically watch? Taylor and I still don't have cable, so our TV consumption is whatever is on the main networks. And during the week, about 80% (my estimation) of the primetime shows on TV have something to do with crime. Have you noticed that? You've got about a hundred different Law and Order, CSI, or other crime/law thriller shows out there to choose from:

Law and Order: Special Victims Unit
Law and Order: Los Angeles
Chase
Undercovers
Castle
Detroit 1-8-7
Hawaii Five-O
NCIS
NCIS: Los Angeles
Criminal Minds
The Defenders
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
CSI: Miami
Blue Bloods
48 Hours Mystery
Dateline

Okay, so maybe it's not a hundred, but it's quite a few crime-themed shows, and these were just what I've seen listed on 3 networks. There's plenty more where this came from on cable.

Aside from being a little jumpy when the suspenseful music started, these shows never really bothered me. I didn't think much about them, but I suppose they were kind of exciting from time to time. After all, it is quite thrilling to witness a crime, track down the perpetrator, build a case, and get a conviction all in an hour's time. Add a few twists in there, and the puzzle is that much more fun to solve.

After I started working with the Butler County Rape Crisis Program and the House of Peace, though, my perception of these shows began to change. Suddenly it wasn't nearly so exciting to watch cases of rape, domestic violence, or other assorted violent crimes as entertainment. In fact, those Law and Order chimes brought out the cynical, resentful me:

"Where are the advocates? Where is the SANE nurse?"
"What the? That's not how real police interact with rape victims."
"Please show me a real precinct with marble floors, huge plasma screen TVs, hologram models, and plush leather chairs. I've yet to see one."
"You know, hospitals are never this dark. Especially not in the ER. And look at the size of those rooms! Sheesh!"
"Oh my gosh, are you serious? There is no way they would get lab results back that fast."
"Seriously, they are going to a full trial just one week after the rape/murder/etc.? As if that would EVER happen."

Needless to say, I make TV-viewing less than enjoyable for my companions. And yet, I don't feel too badly about it. I think these types of TV shows do a huge disservice to our communities and maybe we'd be better off if we weren't watching them at all.

First of all, these shows distort the public's view of what rape, domestic violence, etc. even look like. These shows sensationalize violent crimes to make them sexier, more provocative, and more outrageous all for the sake of entertainment. However, that's not always on our minds when we're watching. While the shows don't claim to be reality-based, these are likely the only views people have of rape or domestic violence or murder. They start to buy into the myths that these shows perpetuate (i.e. rape happens only to vulnerable women out walking alone at night) instead of examining the real facts and statistics in our communities. And God forbid when it happens to them, they have little real knowledge about what is happening or what to do next.

Second, these shows give victims a false idea of the legal process ahead. I have seen dozens of rape victims who believe that the detectives will personally process their rape kit upon leaving the hospital, and that we'll get the "results" back in a few hours. The truth is that it takes weeks and sometimes months to get any analysis of the evidence back from the crime lab.

And speaking of slow processes, the court process is definitely not "as seen on TV." These shows make it look like we are in a full-blown trial with a guilty conviction just days after an arrest. It's just not the case. There may be a preliminary hearing shortly after an arrest, but there are a whole slew of additional hearings, motions, and procedures that have to happen before we get to a trial. The courts are so backed up that it can be weeks and months between each hearing and before you know it, a year has lapsed and we're just now making it to trial. That is, if we even get that far. In many cases, victims get worn down from retelling their story over and over and drop the charges out of exhaustion. Or there just isn't enough evidence to go to trial and the case is dismissed.

And third, perhaps most importantly, I think these crime shows are an injustice to victims of violent crime. Since when do we consider it entertainment to watch someone go through crisis? It's amazing that we can watch hours of rape, murder, and abuse and not even bat an eyelash. These crimes happen to real people in the real world, and I think we forget that.

Surely there must be healthier forms of entertainment out there. I would encourage everyone to really think about your choice of primetime television shows. Before mindlessly flipping to Law and Order: SVU, think about the millions of women who experience such trauma in their real lives every year. Suddenly it doesn't seem so entertaining, does it? Please join me in taking a stand against shows that exploit violence against women and children. When a show comes on with this as the main theme, change the channel and find something else. You'll be glad you did.

And if nothing else is on TV, hey, you could always pick up that book.