The CSI effect
infotainment- a highly stylized, edited, and formatted form of entertainment that is disguised as informative or realistic, but in fault is not scientifically corrected
prosecution carries the burden of proving the defendant guilty "beyond a reasonable doubt”
some juries refuse to convict without definitive forensic evidence
CSI programs lead to a singular correct answer
reality- forensic conclusions are only as good as the technicians who retrieve the evidence, test, and conclude it
CSI problems show no concern with human error
Reality- numerous professionals have lied under oath, faked their credentials, and fabricated evidence
some think TV crime shows are real but they are not
CSI has a positive impact on forensics because finding resources and increases awareness for forensics
Empirical evidence: the information obtained through observation and documentation of certain behaviors and patterns through an experiment
defines attorned have the opportunity to suggest to the jury that fingerprints of DNA should be introduced
prosecutors have begun to use “negative witnesses” to explain why forensic evidence might be absent
voir dire- the preliminary examination of a witness or a juror to determine his/her competence to give or hear evidence
prosecution and defense and question the potential jury
-before the CSI effect
prosecutors rarely had to worry about making a sophisticated presentation or presenting some evidence in every case
prosecutors say these types of shows make it more difficult for them to win convictions, especially if scientific evidence is irrelevant or absent
defense attorneys and the CSI effect
defense attorneys have positive and negative opinions about the CSI effect
some defense attorneys say that jurors rely too heavily on scientific findings and are unwilling to accept that human or technical errors can compromise those finding
some defense attorneys embrace the CSI effect because their clients are being found “not guilty” due to insufficient evidence
impact on law enforcement
police departments and crime lis have spent much of their annual budgets to acquire modern technology and training
thousands of dollars are being spent on DNA technology or trance evidence collection
fingerprints are footwear evidence is being overlooked
departments believe they need to improve their forensic capabilities
there is more collection and booking of evidence
impact on crime labs
quantity of evidence being sent to the labs is increasing at an enormous ate
police expect miracles from crime lavs
police are now sending more samples to be analysed
as samples increase, so does the backlog of the crime lab
for example, the crime lab in Westchester NY handles nearly 1,000 DNA tests, which is up from 400 just 5 years ago
impact on education
350% increase in the number of programs featuring forensic sciences as a course of study in colleges and universities
influence on the criminal mind
The CSI effect may be altering how crimes are committed
increases in criminal cases in which suspects burn or tamper with evidence
certain views use these shows as training grounds on how to cover up their own tracks
myth- crime labs do not lie
reality- there are sample degrades, tests are inconclusive, and lab technicians make mistakes
myth- some of the science in the state- of - the- are and can only be performed by real lab technicians
reality- many techniques on the shows do not exist conceptually, meaning they have not been invented
overcoming the CSI effect in law enforcement
refreshing training- conduct frequent training to explain what is and is not needed with regard to reservations, documentation, and collection efforts
caseholds- departemnt should look at the demographic serves and determine training and technology-based upon case hold
incoming the public- educate the citizens of the realities of forensic science
dedicated personnel- hire educated and trained personnel who have a background in forensic investigation