Essays in the book address such issues as why reality crime programs exist, their larger cultural meaning, their effect on audiences, and what they indicate about crime and justice in the late 20th century. Specific chapters explore: (1) the context and history of television reality crime programs; (2) perceptions of Caucasians' and African-Americans' involvement in crime; (3) women's interpretations of televised violence; (4) the persistence of the reality crime genre; (5) television policing as policing reality; (6) reality crime programming and the reconstruction of law and order in the United States; (7) the world of crime according to "Cops"; (8) images of domestic violence on "reality" television; (9) crime fighting by television in the Netherlands; and (10) crime shows on French television. References, tables, notes, index