{"product_id":"brains-barstools-how-the-media-shapes-what-we-believe-about-crime-by","title":"Brains \u0026 Barstools - How the Media Shapes What We Believe About Crime By","description":"\u003cp\u003eBrains and Barstools brings captivating professors to Toronto bars for vivid lectures that spark curiosity and connection over drinks.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOn Nov 25, we present : \"\u003cstrong\u003eHow the Media Shapes What We Believe About Crime\" by Prof. Scot Worley, PhD.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWe consume crime stories constantly—from true-crime documentaries and podcasts to breaking news and dramatic police procedurals. But how much of what we see actually reflects what we know about crime?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn this lecture, \u003cstrong\u003eDr. Scot Wortley\u003c\/strong\u003e explores how popular and news media portray crime, criminal offenders, and the criminal justice system - and how those portrayals can shape the way we understand the world around us.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDrawing on criminological research, he’ll unpack some of the biggest assumptions surrounding \u003cstrong\u003ecrime trends, race and immigration, fear of victimization, and “tough-on-crime” policies\u003c\/strong\u003e, examining where popular narratives diverge from the evidence.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe conversation will also explore a more uncomfortable question: \u003cstrong\u003ewho benefits when we become more afraid of crime?\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eDr. Wortley will consider how media portrayals can reinforce stereotypes and influence public attitudes toward crime prevention, policing, and criminal justice.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Speaker\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDr. Scot Wortley\u003c\/strong\u003e is a Professor at the University of Toronto’s Centre for Criminology and Sociolegal Studies, where he has taught since 1996 and currently chairs the Research Cluster on Racism and Inequality. His research focuses on racial bias in the criminal justice system, public perceptions of policing, youth crime, victimization, street gangs, crime prevention, and program evaluation.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eProfessor Wortley has led major investigations into potential racial bias within policing for the \u003cstrong\u003eNova Scotia, British Columbia, and Ontario Human Rights Commissions\u003c\/strong\u003e, contributed to Justice Michael Tulloch’s review of Ontario’s street check regulations, and is currently involved in research examining racial bias within the TTC and police use of force in Canada.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHis research has informed policy and practice across Canada, and his work has appeared in leading academic journals including the \u003cem\u003eAmerican Journal of Sociology\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eSocial Forces\u003c\/em\u003e, and the \u003cem\u003eBritish Journal of Criminology\u003c\/em\u003e. His 2025 book, \u003cem\u003eRace, Crime and Justice in Canada: Issues and Strategies\u003c\/em\u003e, examines the relationship between race, crime, and the Canadian criminal justice system.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e📅 Date: November 25, 2026\u003cbr\u003e🕡 Time: 6:00 – 8:00 PM\u003cbr\u003e📍 Location: Reid's Distillery\u003cbr\u003e🎤 Speaker: Prof. Scot Worley, PhD\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eExpect to leave with a more critical lens for the crime stories you encounter every day - and a better understanding of what the research actually tells us.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e🎟 \u003cstrong\u003eSeats are limited!\u003c\/strong\u003e Early bird tickets available \u003cstrong\u003efor a limited time.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Reid's Distillery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53676967723320,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0040\/7273\/4831\/files\/https-cdn-evbuc-com-images-1164061613-244357381390-1-original_9545f7d5-732b-4552-8576-0ded1341c768.jpg?v=1793407600","url":"https:\/\/reidsdistillery.com\/products\/brains-barstools-how-the-media-shapes-what-we-believe-about-crime-by","provider":"Reid's Distillery","version":"1.0","type":"link"}