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Media
A case study on television
shows
Sociology 120
What is the
purpose of the
show?
Dexter works for the Miami Metro
PD as a blood spatter analyst
He is a devoted father, brother,
husband, and friend
In his spare time, he enjoys
golfing, boating, fishing, and killing
people
Dexter is a serial killer who targets
criminals who have escaped the
justice system
The show is based around Dexter
trying to keep his dark side a
secret from those around him,
while still fulfilling his own need to
kill
Criminal Justice
System
The Courts
Prison
The Police
They are the concrete extension of
the State to provide for social order
Maintain peace in the community
How are all the functions tied together?
Authority
Non-negotiable force
Discretion
The Courts
They decide the guilt or innocence of
those accused of committing a crime
Prison
The functions of a prison:
Retribution (Imposes a penalty on the offender)
Social Protection (He or she cannot commit crime
anymore)
Restorative Justice
To seek to return the focus of the justice
system to repairing the harm that has been
done to the victim and the community
To reconcile offenders with those they have
harmed
Circle Sentencing Used in aboriginal
communities, bringing the offender, the victim
and the community together
Family Group Conferencing for young people
linked to the victim and the family members
Community Corrections- responsibility for
correction back to the community and minimizes
the separation of the offender from society