Franklin T . Wilson
Dr. Franklin T. Wilson received his Ph.D. from the College of Criminal Justice at Sam Houston State University (2006), M.S. from the College of Justice and Safety at Eastern Kentucky University (2000), and B.A. from Ohio University (1993). Prior to joining the Criminal Justice faculty at Indiana State University, Dr. Wilson was a faculty member at both the University of Central Missouri and Middle Tennessee State University. In addition to his assignment to the Department of Criminology and Criminal justice Dr. Wilson is also an Associated Faculty Member with the Department of African American Studies.
Dr. Wilson’s research and publication interests are all focused on increasing the general public’s knowledge of key criminal justice issues. He approaches his research through a blending of criminological, historical, and communications research techniques. His research and publication interests specifically include issues surrounding mass incarceration and punishment as well as the depiction of municipal police officers in the media.
His research has been published in leading journals such as The Prison Journal, Women & Criminal Justice, Race & Justice, and the Journal of Crime Justice and Popular Culture. Additionally, his research has been featured in numerous news outlets including the New York Times, Pittsburg Gazette, Houston Chronicle, and U.S. Catholic. He is the author of Crime and Media Studies: Diversity of Method, Medium, and Communication.
Dr. Wilson has worked with numerous agencies including the National Institute for Victims Studies, the Texas Counsel on Offenders with Mental and Medical Impairments, and United States Probation and Pretrial Services. He was the Founding Chair of the International Crime, Media and Popular Culture Studies Conference (2008-2014). He is a featured expert for the Crime and Justice Research Alliance and a member of the Board of Directors for CRIMCAST, an online podcast, which centers on current issues in criminal justice. He also serves on the Advisory Board for the Center for Media and Celebrity Studies.
Dr. Wilson was the winner or the 2010 Indiana State University Tenure-track International Faculty Award. He was also invited and served as a topic area chair for the “Media and Crime” Section of the 2013 and 2016 Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences Annual Conference. He was recently named one of the leading Criminology and Criminal Justice professors to follow on Twitter. His expertise has led to invited speaking engagements at various universities, conference and special events such as the University of New South Wales (Sydney Australia) in 2019, University of Westminster (London England in 2018, Indiana University in 2018, University of West Georgia in 2018, the Keynote Address for the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) Annual Conference in 2014, Texas Interfaith Center for Public Policy Texas Prison Cemetery remembrance ceremony in 2013 among others.
Dr. Wilson’s research and publication interests are all focused on increasing the general public’s knowledge of key criminal justice issues. He approaches his research through a blending of criminological, historical, and communications research techniques. His research and publication interests specifically include issues surrounding mass incarceration and punishment as well as the depiction of municipal police officers in the media.
His research has been published in leading journals such as The Prison Journal, Women & Criminal Justice, Race & Justice, and the Journal of Crime Justice and Popular Culture. Additionally, his research has been featured in numerous news outlets including the New York Times, Pittsburg Gazette, Houston Chronicle, and U.S. Catholic. He is the author of Crime and Media Studies: Diversity of Method, Medium, and Communication.
Dr. Wilson has worked with numerous agencies including the National Institute for Victims Studies, the Texas Counsel on Offenders with Mental and Medical Impairments, and United States Probation and Pretrial Services. He was the Founding Chair of the International Crime, Media and Popular Culture Studies Conference (2008-2014). He is a featured expert for the Crime and Justice Research Alliance and a member of the Board of Directors for CRIMCAST, an online podcast, which centers on current issues in criminal justice. He also serves on the Advisory Board for the Center for Media and Celebrity Studies.
Dr. Wilson was the winner or the 2010 Indiana State University Tenure-track International Faculty Award. He was also invited and served as a topic area chair for the “Media and Crime” Section of the 2013 and 2016 Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences Annual Conference. He was recently named one of the leading Criminology and Criminal Justice professors to follow on Twitter. His expertise has led to invited speaking engagements at various universities, conference and special events such as the University of New South Wales (Sydney Australia) in 2019, University of Westminster (London England in 2018, Indiana University in 2018, University of West Georgia in 2018, the Keynote Address for the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) Annual Conference in 2014, Texas Interfaith Center for Public Policy Texas Prison Cemetery remembrance ceremony in 2013 among others.
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Papers by Franklin T . Wilson
Subsequently, a population of 468 police use of force scenes was identified to serve as the units of analysis for this study. Findings revealed male officer use of force scenes appeared across all 40 years of films. Female officer use of force scenes, however, were highly restricted to specific films, years, and often dwarfed by male scenes within films. Lone female officer use of force scenes saw their highest representation in the 1980s but declined in the 1990s and 2000s, becoming increasingly dependent on a male officer’s presence. Implications of such patterns are discussed as well as potential second step cultivation studies.
methodology, 112 films were identified and examined to determine the overarching messages conveyed through the genre. Findings revealed that White officers were depicted in the lead or joint leading role in 89% (n ¼ 100) and African Americans in 19% (n ¼ 21) of films. However, White officers were predominantly depicted in a serious light unless sharing the lead with a minority, while African American officers were predominantly depicted in a comedic light. Further, the issue of double marginalization was rarely depicted. The potential implications of these
portrayals on officer recruitment, retention, and perceived law enforcement legitimacy
are discussed and second-step criminological cultivation studies to determine
if a cultivation effect exists are proposed.
frequency and quality of female municipal police officers depicted
in either the leading or joint leading role in the first 4 decades of
the core cop film genre. An examination of 112 films released
between 1971 and 2011 found that only 15 films portrayed female
municipal police officers in either the leading or joint leading role.
Findings revealed that key barriers regularly faced by female police
officers, such as sexual harassment, gender harassment, and
gender discrimination, were not addressed in the films. Female
municipal police officers were, however, repeatedly depicted as
having had intimate relationships with senior male police officers
and=or portrayed as becoming officers because of being scarred
emotionally or mentally by past traumatic events. According to
cultivation theory, such depictions would cultivate a perceived
social reality in which females only become police officers if they
are emotionally scarred and intimacy with male colleagues is
the norm. This study provides insight into the potential impact
the lack and quality of existing portrayals have on the recruitment,
hiring, and retention of female municipal police officers.
commitment and criminal sanctions.
Subsequently, a population of 468 police use of force scenes was identified to serve as the units of analysis for this study. Findings revealed male officer use of force scenes appeared across all 40 years of films. Female officer use of force scenes, however, were highly restricted to specific films, years, and often dwarfed by male scenes within films. Lone female officer use of force scenes saw their highest representation in the 1980s but declined in the 1990s and 2000s, becoming increasingly dependent on a male officer’s presence. Implications of such patterns are discussed as well as potential second step cultivation studies.
methodology, 112 films were identified and examined to determine the overarching messages conveyed through the genre. Findings revealed that White officers were depicted in the lead or joint leading role in 89% (n ¼ 100) and African Americans in 19% (n ¼ 21) of films. However, White officers were predominantly depicted in a serious light unless sharing the lead with a minority, while African American officers were predominantly depicted in a comedic light. Further, the issue of double marginalization was rarely depicted. The potential implications of these
portrayals on officer recruitment, retention, and perceived law enforcement legitimacy
are discussed and second-step criminological cultivation studies to determine
if a cultivation effect exists are proposed.
frequency and quality of female municipal police officers depicted
in either the leading or joint leading role in the first 4 decades of
the core cop film genre. An examination of 112 films released
between 1971 and 2011 found that only 15 films portrayed female
municipal police officers in either the leading or joint leading role.
Findings revealed that key barriers regularly faced by female police
officers, such as sexual harassment, gender harassment, and
gender discrimination, were not addressed in the films. Female
municipal police officers were, however, repeatedly depicted as
having had intimate relationships with senior male police officers
and=or portrayed as becoming officers because of being scarred
emotionally or mentally by past traumatic events. According to
cultivation theory, such depictions would cultivate a perceived
social reality in which females only become police officers if they
are emotionally scarred and intimacy with male colleagues is
the norm. This study provides insight into the potential impact
the lack and quality of existing portrayals have on the recruitment,
hiring, and retention of female municipal police officers.
commitment and criminal sanctions.