Why does American TV programming seem to focus on crime stories like Law and Order, Criminal Minds, etc. etc?

yeah, there's too much of them....are they trying to educate criminals and improve crimes???

just read an article that these shows are finally losing favor with the fans and that they are losing viewers fast.... They only bring tv shows to market that are able to attract advertizers. With that being said the content of the tv shows will always reflect the need of the advertizers and that is what all the law/crime shows are all about

It is because of the Neilson ratings saying this is what is popular. First there was one and when that became popular then others followed. It's all about ratings! Personally I would rather watch these types of show than the so called reality shows.

There is really no "smoking Gun" that Say's that either (Women nor Men nor Children) can be really be said that the other Gender watches more T.V. than the other. I know of a few Women that love to watch "Law & dis-order" or "Cops" & it really,really seems that all of these "Soap Box Operas" seem to have alot of Voilence & or there is alway's some person disenchanted w/everyone else. It happens on "The Old & the Beautiful" & or the Hung & the Restless. It just seems that no-matter just who you are,there's just no escapeing the fact that even (Hollywood) recoginizes the fact that here in America we like to watch Voilence & Deception at an alarming rate of people that auctually like that sort of thing.

dont forget the war stuff & the 'check out our military stuff, its the best in the world' shows. i spent a bit in jails & prison and never could get a decent answer to why theyre obsessed with 'cops' & 'highway patrol'. the only answer was 'to see what not to do' which is total bs. heres the deal, media is the mommy & tells us what to think. fedgov is dad; the imposing, consequence, rulemaker role. these shows are DESIGNED (yes designed) to remind you that (brace yourself, sounds harsh) you are state power's bich. bow down & dont even think of forming your own thought or i'll tell your father. i never hear of racism till i turn on tv, mtv & comedy chanel in particular. theyve long since admitted to making shows for the 5th grade (school) education level. it also serves the purpose to give ideas of things to do. i talk to 'normal' people who watch csi & try to think of ways around it. see? a not killer thinking of ways to not get caught by csi. fairly isolated cases but worth the second look. i could go on & on but this is too long already & i made a point. L8r