The Role of the Media in Homicide Investigations

Police use of the media during a homicide investigation is complex. On one hand, the media allows police services to engage with a wide range of people that are vital to solving a case. On the other hand, the media can at times be detrimental to what people think about homicide and the police response. The chapter delves further into these issues and conveys the role and function of the media today during police investigations. Existing literature relating to police media workings and homicide investigations are examined in relation to four key stages. These include (1) in the immediate aftermath of a homicide; (2) police communication using the media; (3) the media reporting of homicide; and (4) citizen cooperation via the media and police assessments of new information. Taken together, these stages illustrate that the police need to carefully manage their engagement with several audiences when using the media.