CSI effect boosts enrollment
Issue date: 6/22/08 Section: Student Life
(ARA) - Now in its eighth season, the Emmy award-winning investigative drama CSI draws a weekly audience of about 20 million viewers. But CSI is more than simply entertainment. With such a large viewership, this popular crime-solving show is having an impact on the field of criminal justice -- both good and bad.
Repackaging violent crimes into glamorous 60-minute episodes of successful, tech-savvy crime solving, CSI may actually be artificially raising the expectations placed on forensic science. In fact, one study finds that "The CSI Effect," is altering what crime victims and jury members expect of courtroom evidence. Another study finds that it may also affect the way criminal trials are conducted, with prosecutors expected to present greater amounts of forensic evidence in court to meet a burden of proof. In fact, a 2005 article in the Washington Post reported that, because of shows like CSI, juries now require proof beyond all doubt for a conviction.
Nancy Lee Oesch, criminal justice programs director, Everest University, South Orlando Campus, states that shows like CSI can create unrealistic expectations of the field of criminal justice. "Shows like CSI present crime-solving as something quickly-accomplished or easily proven with advanced forensic technology. But unfortunately we know that in the real world, solving crimes and establishing evidence to meet a burden of proof is really much more complicated."
In addition to creating a demand for more forensic evidence to convict criminals, some also fear that shows like CSI can actually help criminals learn tactics to evade detection by revealing the process crime fighters use to identify and convict them.
Despite these potential problems, CSI is still one of the most loved shows on television and its popularity may also be having positive effects on the criminal justice field. In addition to raising awareness of the industry, and increasing its prestige, many schools of criminal justice have found that with all the interest, shows like CSI are drawing more potential students to criminal justice careers.
Repackaging violent crimes into glamorous 60-minute episodes of successful, tech-savvy crime solving, CSI may actually be artificially raising the expectations placed on forensic science. In fact, one study finds that "The CSI Effect," is altering what crime victims and jury members expect of courtroom evidence. Another study finds that it may also affect the way criminal trials are conducted, with prosecutors expected to present greater amounts of forensic evidence in court to meet a burden of proof. In fact, a 2005 article in the Washington Post reported that, because of shows like CSI, juries now require proof beyond all doubt for a conviction.
Nancy Lee Oesch, criminal justice programs director, Everest University, South Orlando Campus, states that shows like CSI can create unrealistic expectations of the field of criminal justice. "Shows like CSI present crime-solving as something quickly-accomplished or easily proven with advanced forensic technology. But unfortunately we know that in the real world, solving crimes and establishing evidence to meet a burden of proof is really much more complicated."
In addition to creating a demand for more forensic evidence to convict criminals, some also fear that shows like CSI can actually help criminals learn tactics to evade detection by revealing the process crime fighters use to identify and convict them.
Despite these potential problems, CSI is still one of the most loved shows on television and its popularity may also be having positive effects on the criminal justice field. In addition to raising awareness of the industry, and increasing its prestige, many schools of criminal justice have found that with all the interest, shows like CSI are drawing more potential students to criminal justice careers.
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