The County Sheriff in Films: A Portrait of Law Enforcement as a Symbol of Rural America. (June 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Placide, MaCherie M.; LaFrance, Casey
• Is Part Of: International journal of police science & management. Volume 16:Number 2(2014)
• Page Start: 101
• Page End: 112
• Publication Date: 2014-06
• Subjects: cultivation theory -- film studies -- county sheriff -- rural America -- law enforcement; Police administration -- Periodicals; Criminal justice, Administration of -- Periodicals; 363.205
• DOI: 10.1350/ijps.2014.16.2.331
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1461-3557

Abstract

For years, there has existed a gap in academic research on county sheriffs in their role in rural law enforcement. However, the image of the county sheriff has been caricatured perennially on the silver screen, ie, in films. This study, rooted in cultivation theory, uses qualitative film analysis in an attempt to identify common themes and heuristics in media portrayals of the sheriff. After identifying these themes, we explore the implications of these portrayals for public perceptions of the sheriff as a professional law enforcement officer and as an elected official. We argue that the sheriff serves as a symbol of rural America — and conclude by discussing the implications of this phenomenon and how it might be ameliorated by more intense research focused on the sheriff.