Dyachkova M. Mass-media as a criminological phenomenon.

In the national criminological science, the dissertation is the first special comprehensive study of the media as a criminological phenomenon. The media is considered as an influential social institution, capable of forming a public opinion about crime, criminal factors and a system of counteraction. The media influences legal consciousness, criminological worldview and behavior of the population, it conduces whether to make a decision on committing a crime or to refrain from criminal acts; it also performs preventive functions in the system of crime prevention. Taking into account the achievements of modern methodology of scientific studies, a method of criminological research of mass media is offered. In comparison with the current crime situation in Ukraine according to the reported crimes, the media (informational) image of crime created by mass media is investigated. The role and the place of mass media in the processes of criminalization of personality and reproduction of crime are determined. As a result of the study, scientifically grounded proposals for strengthening the preventive functionality of the media and improving the mechanism of information interaction with law enforcement, judicial institutions and the public are developed.