CSI effect

CSI Effect is the phenomenon in which the popularity of television shows such as CSI and Law & Order has raised crimes victims' and jury members' expectations of forensic evidence, DNA testing and crime scene investigation to the level depicted in these shows. The effect is said to have changed the way many trials are presented today. Prosecuters are also pressured to deliver more forensic evidence to present to jury members.

It also has had an effect on the academic. Universities have seen an increase in students enrolling in forensic science and related science programs. There has been criticism from police departments [1] that, in an effort to increase their student numbers, universities have been offering unsuitable courses, leaving graduates unprepared for real-world forensic work. The traditional academic route followed by forensic scientists is a primary degree in a general science subject, for example chemistry or biology, followed by a suitable postgraduate course or some type of in-service training.

Highly publicized trials such as Scott Peterson, Robert Blake and O.J. Simpson have also drawn in many people into forensics.

On the CSI shows, toxicology test results have been shown to be instantaneous, when in reality, results could take up to several months.

Prospective students and people who view CSI to be completely reality-based may be off though. Although the technology and gadgets seen on these shows are used in crime labs they take much more time and detail in real life to get answer. Analysts are worried that the CSI effect shows people that criminal science is speedy and always right, and could have a negative effect on trials where forensics is irrelevant. DNA testing is expected more and more from jurors. Some potential jurors are even being asked whether they are viewers of shows such as CSI.

The "CSI effect" is also altering how crimes are committed. Tammy Klein, a criminalist for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, and other criminal experts have noticed an increase in criminal cases in which suspects burn or tamper with evidence, such as the use of bleach to destroy DNA evidence and careful cleaning of the crime scene of trace evidence, such as hairs and clothing fibers. Also cited by critics is a murder case in Trumbull County, Ohio. The prime suspect in the case, described as a CSI fan, murdered a mother and daughter, then used bleach to wash his hands of blood, covered the interior of his car with blankets to avoid transfering blood, and then burned the bodies, his clothes, and cigarette butts (which would contain trace amounts of his DNA). He attempted to throw remaining evidence into a local lake, including the murder weapon, a crowbar, but was unable to dispose of the evidence due to the lake's surface being frozen. The surviving evidence was later recovered by investigators and the suspect arrested.

External links

See also

External links