Crime and the mass media

Authors

  • Sérgio Salomão Shecaira Universidade Estadual Paulista, Unesp, Brasil image/svg+xml

Keywords:

Crime, Mass media, Fear, Presumption of innocence, Freedom of the press

Abstract

The text examines the relationship between crime and the mass media, starting from the historical fascination that crime exerts on the population and the construction of the criminal stereotype. It analyzes how the media, rather than a mere mirror of reality, intervenes upon it, reinforcing fear and insecurity, distorting statistics, and influencing the functioning of criminal justice and the creation of penal legislation. It discusses the tension between freedom of the press and constitutional goods such as the presumption of innocence, due process of law, and honor. It concludes by pointing to three paths: civil reparation, self-censorship, and the creation of legal mechanisms preventing the disclosure of suspects' names, similar to the Statute of the Child and Adolescent.

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Author Biography

Sérgio Salomão Shecaira, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Unesp, Brasil

Advogado e Professor da UNESP.

References

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Published

1995-04-01

How to Cite

SHECAIRA, Sérgio Salomão. Crime and the mass media. Brazilian Journal of Criminal Science, São Paulo, v. 10, n. 10, p. 135–143, 1995. Disponível em: https://publicacoes.ibccrim.org.br/index.php/RBCCRIM/article/view/3394. Acesso em: 20 oct. 2026.

Issue

Section

National Doctrine
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