Compare and contrast criminal “myths” and “facts.” The media plays an important role in shaping people's perceptions of crime. Without the media, we would remain ignorant of events outside our direct social groups. The media, and in particular the news, therefore constitute an important point of contact for us with the rest of society. In assessing its effect on popular perceptions of crime, it becomes important to consider where most information comes from and how representative it is of actual crime. Whether it is “fact” (the truth, the real event, a real thing) or whether it rises to the level of criminal myth. With a myth based on the “exaggeration” or exacerbation of “ordinary” life events. Crime myths become a convenient mortar for filling knowledge gaps and providing answers to questions that the social sciences cannot or have failed to resolve. Myths tend to provide the information necessary to construct a “social reality of crime (Quinney, 1970)”. As issues related to crime are debated and re-debated, shaped and reshaped in public forms, they become myths, as widely demonstrated in the mass media. The social construction of myths of crime and criminal justice appears to follow a series of recurring patterns. These models allow unprecedented social attention to be focused on a few isolated criminal events or problems. This attention is fostered by intense, but often brief, media coverage of a selected issue. Intense social concern about an issue is achieved through a variety of means ranging from mass media, government, law enforcement officials, interpersonal communications, and reform group interests all of which play a major role in attracting public interest. public attention to certain issues. .. middle of paper ...... the myths of time thus begin to take shape. Whether it is criminal acts transformed into criminal myth or exaggeration of ordinary life events. Crime myths fill in the gaps to provide answers to public questions. Proving that criminal myths and facts can be intertwined to provide a socially accepted response to crime in Australia. Bibliography Blumberg, M, Kappeler, V and Potter, G. 1993, The Mythology and Crime and Criminal Justice, Prospect Heights, I11.: Waveland Press. Daly, Kathleen, Goldsmith, Andrew and Israel, Mark. 2006, Crime and Justice: A guide to criminology, third addition, Thomson, Lawbook Co. Healey, Justin. 2001, Issues in Society, Crime and Justice, The Spinney Press. Healey, Kaye. 1998, Issues in Society, Youth and Law, The Spinney Press. Williams, Katherine S. 1991, Criminology, Blackstone Press Limited, Great Britain.