Copycat Crimes, A&E, 2007

It is a growing, troubling phenomenon--more and more crimes committed are found to be imitations of things the perpetrators saw on TV or in the movies. While these unimaginative criminals have been around since the first days of the cinema, the rise in Copycat Crimes has caught the media's attention recently.

Investigative Reports (TM) examines this trend with the help of prosecuting attorneys, police officers, psychologists and inmates. Jack Valenti, President of the Motion Picture Association of America, tells how Hollywood is responding to the problem, and a major producer tells of how it has affected his role.

Examine past waves of copycat crimes, such as the bank robbing rise that corresponded to the '50s boom in western films, and hear from some experts who believe that the problem has increased 10-fold in the last decade.

It's a probing look at the undeniable influence that popular culture has over our society.

50 minutes, closed-captioned, fully narrated, DVD only, DC9835/ $24.95

[Order] [Checkout]

RELATED MATERIAL:
A&E / History Channel Videos
Police / Criminal Justice Videos