In the thesis, the theme of deviance and crime is analyzed through a sociological perspective. It explains concepts such as social norms, values, social control, and socialization, and their role in understanding crime and deviance. The theoretical part of the paper thoroughly examines sociological theories and the contributions of theorists in explaining crime and deviance, presenting their different approaches. The determinants of contemporary media reporting are shown, and the impact of media portrayal of crime on public opinion is explained. By analyzing content from three Croatian daily news portals, the goal of the empirical part of the paper is to determine the dominant patterns of reporting on prominent crimes committed in Croatia and the differences in these patterns depending on the type of violence they report on. The content analysis of a total of 90 contributions indicated a lack of deeper analysis and background of the committed crimes, and a lack of expert opinions, highlighting the need for improvement in media reporting on crimes. Despite the challenges, most reports adhere to ethical guidelines. Based on the conducted research, the thesis provides insight into the complex relationship between media, society, and individuals in the context of crime, contributing to a better understanding of their interaction.