The First 48 documents real true crime investigations as they happen and has been credited for its realistic portrayals over the years.
The First 48 covers detectives investigating real cases, and since they are not paid to appear on the show and the cases are spread all over the United States, there is little chance that the show is scripted.
Is The First 48 real?
The First 48 is one of the longest-running true crime documentary series on television.
However, even with the show’s long history, some fans still wonder how “real” the reality show truly is. The First 48 certainly falls on the more realistic end of the reality series spectrum.
Though it has been criticised by some police departments and other individuals through the years, The First 48 does document real cases, and the real detectives, families, suspects, and victims that are involved in these cases.
Perhaps the biggest indicator that what you see portrayed on The First 48 is real is the fact that the officers featured on the show, as well as their departments, are not paid to appear in the series at all.
A former producer of the show confirmed in a Reddit thread that The First 48 has small production crews stationed all over the United States who are all ready to start filming as soon as they get the call about a new case.
This makes it highly unlikely that they have time to script or reshoot scenes.
Criticism against The First 48
The First 48 may be regarded as one of the most realistic portrayals of real-life detective work, but Memphis’ city council ended its partnership with the series, after it concluded that the show was portraying its police department and crime statistics in a bad light.
Demetrius Buckley, who was incarcerated after the show, has also spoken out about how parts of this episode were fabricated for dramatic effect.
Has The First 48 footage ever been used as evidence?
Though some detectives have admitted that they used some of the footage from their The First 48 cases to build a stronger case when they went to court, The First 48 actually found themselves in hot water when the show refused to hand over raw footage for a case, in order to protect their sources.
The lasting impact of The First 48
Through the years, many detectives have spoken out about how the show inspired them to work harder on their cases and be more thorough.
Detective Dave Walker of Tulsa’s homicide squad even confirmed that The First 48 had helped to improve the police department’s relationship with the public, because it helped the public to “see them as people.”
