The CSI Effect
Ha. So it turns out that because of all the CSI and Law & Order jurors are watching these days they think they know a whole lot more about forensics and criminal investigations than they really do:
Prosecutors in the United States are now spending much more time explaining to juries why certain kinds of evidence are not relevant. Prosecutors have even introduced a new kind of witness–a “negative evidence” witness–to explain that investigators often fail to find evidence at a crime scene.
Apparently it cuts both ways, though, as criminals are also watching these shows and learning some tricks to cover their tracks. I love TV.
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I was thinking about this recently – might be a good way to get out of jury duty. “I can’t wait to convict these guys! Bring on the forensics! Where’s the DNA?”
this just happened when i had jury duty! the prosecutor asked us if we had an issue sending someone to jail if there was no forensic evidence (fingerprints), and went on to mention CSI, explaining that usually evidence like that isn’t found. It was kind of funny at the time, but a lot of people said they needed the evidence, and were off the consideration panel. So there’s something for potential but unwilling jurors to learn too!
I’ve always partially seen these shows as “Do’s & Don’ts Manuals” – the producers/writers/directors always so proud to show how they rub shoulders with the “underworld” for that “authenticity” — sometimes they’re just tools but occassionally even ARE the underworld.
But yes, a vicious cycle of the snarling dog chasing it’s tail, all mixed together with the cops/doctors/investigators-in-love melodrama. Maybe the lawyers watch the show & imagine they should be having backroom affairs & generalyy acting as badly as the actors do (literal & figurative). MORE “tail chasing”!
It’s a wonder anything gets done.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7C3RrvZMx-M&feature=related
I had a similar situation but I guess it would be called the House Effect. When I was in the hospital with a staph infection I told the doctor that the best way to track the rash that was rapidly spreading up my leg was to mark the boundary with a pen. He was very impressed — I on the other hand wanted a new doctor!
i wonder if this is a new effect or whether it’s been happening for years? — i would guess it’s the former — i don’t recall people previously thinking that what they see on t.v. is real — t.v. shows used to be fantasy islands and love boats — now it’s reality?
p.s. i love how now in elevators they have to post signs to tell people not to try to escape a broken elevator through the ceiling tiles, apparently because so many characters do it on t.v.