Support
Thanks to the gracious support of the Tanner Fellowship, I designed and conducted a mixed-methods study investigating an under-researched aspect of the modern criminal justice system: the sociopolitical impact of true crime media (TCM). As both a TCM consumer and a student of critical carceral studies, I noticed a striking gap in research regarding how the modern true crime phenomenon influences perceptions of criminal justice, including policing, sentencing, incarceration, and capital punishment.
Over two months, I created and distributed a quantitative survey about true crime consumption, media preferences, and opinions on the criminal justice system, which was open to TCM consumers and non-consumers. The survey was supplemented by optional hour-long qualitative interviews, which captured the variety and nuance in TCM and criminal justice system opinions. My dataset was primarily concentrated in Upstate New York and western North Carolina, but drew additional national and international participants.
Through this fellowship, I gained confidence as an interviewer and researcher, making it a priceless experience to prepare for a career in empirical research and carceral studies. While I encountered challenges in navigating sensitive topics, I came away with an even stronger passion for sociological research and its use in seeking meaningful criminal justice reform. I am thrilled and grateful to have been given this wonderful opportunity!