'' THE REAL HOUSEWIVES '' REALITY TV SNIPPET

WIDE ANGEL : In an unusual criminology course, Students study crime, punishment and justice with the help of The Real Housewives reality series.

The Real Housewives reality TV series, which showcases the lives of rotating cast wealthy women in 11 cities in the U.S. and places in several other countries, is famous for its characters' over-the-top drama and messy personal antics.

But there are also useful lessons that the characters' lives and frequent run-ins with the law offer to casual observers and criminology students alike.

I developed the idea for '' The Real Housewives of Criminology '' course when I heard a story on National Public Radio [ NPR ] in 2023 about how the Bravo Network franchise was becoming more like a trust-crime series.

Jen Shah, a cast member from The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, had recently been sentenced to to six years in federal prison for her role in a nationwide telemarketing scheme - but she wasn't the only one on the show who met such a fate.

Many people who appear on Housewives share a real-life penchant for crime - from driving -under-the-inluence charges and theft, to fraud and assault.

During any given episode, viewers may find  Housewives stars and their families navigating the fallout - from court dates to public shaming.

I REALISED that these scenes illustrate core concepts from criminal justice theory and practice as well as any textbook.

The World Students Society thanks C. Clare Strange, an Assistant Research Professor of Criminology and Justice Studies at Drexel University in the US.