Not your average criminal: Dexter, Weeds and The Sopranos, challenging traditional media portrayals.

The media and the criminal justice system are both prominent institutions in contemporary society. Research has explored both systems as independent and autonomous entities as well as the overlap between these two institutions. Both communications and criminological theories are examined to gain insight into the enjoyment of crime drama programming. A historical development of crime dramas is provided as a framework for understanding the traditional media portrayal of the criminal justice system and criminals. Using thematic content analysis three television programs Dexter, Weeds and The Sopranos are used to demonstrate a media shift that challenges the traditional portrayal of criminals and the criminal justice system. The reasons behind this shift as well as implications for popular culture are then explored.