Abstract
Professor Harris argues that the public perception of the criminal justice system formed by television matters in a democracy. Since the beginning of the medium, television has offered viewers images of the criminal justice system. Whether in the form of news or entertainment, all of these images have presented a picture of the system that is, at best, incomplete, and at worst, inaccurate. The Courtroom Television Network, or Court TV, a cable television system offering live coverage of actual trials, offers an opportunity to correct the erroneous beliefs generated by conventional television. While Court TV has many benefits, Professor Harris argues that it can also skew perceptions. For example, viewers may think that a trial takes place in the typical criminal case, when in fact a trial is actually a rare occurrence. Professor Harris suggests addressing these shortcomings by adding to Court TV an additional cable channel focused on the daily work of local courts.
How to Cite
35 Ariz. L. Rev. 785 (1993)
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