Essay on CSI Effect - CSI Effect benefits both the Criminals and the Investigators

Do you believe that the CSI Effect is real?

For Barry Fisher, the director of the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department crime lab, the CSI effect works both ways.  The criminals are benefited by these shows in the sense that they have become more careful with the evidence that they leave behind the crime scenes.  They have observed that criminals are more adept at covering up the crime scene.  “Things like cigarette butts, coke cans, beer cans, a sweaty hat band or blood or semen, hairs, all those things that used to be left.  Those things are no longer being left at the crime scenes,” say Barry Fisher.  For sure, criminals who watch CSI Effect have become wiser.

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However, they still cannot outsmart the investigators.  For Fisher, the investigators have also been benefitted by CSI Effect.  Because of the interest in the forensic science more individuals are applying for a career in forensic science.  As a result, more qualified people are applying for careers in forensic science.  

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Essay on CSI Effect - More Women are Drawn to Careers in Forensic Science

Are you looking for evidence whether the CSI effect is real? Are you looking for evidence whether the CSI effect is fiction?

Determining whether the CSI effect is fact of fiction is very difficult.  It will depend on the perspective of the person looking at the circumstances of the case.

Though determining the impact of CSI effect is difficult, what is clear is that it is drawing more women in the field of forensic science.  According to the Associated Press, a review of the forensic science programs reveals that there is about 75 percent women graduates in this field which is an increase from 64 percent in 2000.

It is also estimated that there is at least 60 percent female in the forensic labs all over the United States which is an indication that women are finding careers in forensic science very attractive.  

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According to the Associated Press, these women were being drawn to the careers in forensic science because of the influence of television shows like the CSI Effect.  For them, the women who portray roles in the CSI serve as role models for them.  

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Essay on the Role of CSI Effect in Casey Anthony's Acquittal

Are you looking for essay on CSI effect? The July 2011 case of Casey Anthony presents a good sub-topic for essay on CSI effect since many believe that the CSI effect had an influence on the jury.

In July 2011, the jury in Florida found Casey Anthony not guilty of murder in the death of Caylee, her 2-year old daughter.  Casey Anthony was accused of killing of daughter Caylee by covering her mouth in duct tape.  Her body was found sic months later in the woods near their home.

Thaddeus Hoffmeister, a law professor at the University of Dayton School of Law, believes that the CSI effect had an influence in the jury’s verdict in this case.

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According to Thaaddeus Hoffmeister because juries are exposed to shows like the CSI effect, juries now expect to see sophisticated scientific evidence before they will decide to convict.  This is evident in this case when the jury expected Casey Anthony’s DNA on the duct tape.  They thought that if the duct tape was used to suffocate Caylee Anthony then Casey Anthony’s DNA should be all over it.  When they could not find it they refused to render the guilty verdict.  The jury also wanted scientific evidence placing Casey Anthony at the scene of the crime before they could render the guilty verdict.  The jury thought that given the level of scientific advancements today the prosecutors should have been able to gather enough evidence placing Casey Anthony at the crime scene but they failed to do it.

Determining whether the CSI effect had an impact in the decision of the jury is difficult to tell.  Whether or not the jury expected hard forensic evidence before they can convict is a matter that is very subjective.

What is clear though is that the prosecutors failed to deliver.  The forensic evidence against the defendant was weak since the cause of death in this case could not be established.  The jury was right.  It was only trying to make sure that before the guilty verdict is handed down there is not an iota of evidence that the suspect was innocent.  The lack of forensic evidence was the weakness of the prosecutors.  They could not blame the CSI effect for their weak case.

 

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Essay on CSI Effect - Arguments Why it is not Real

While there are those who say that the CSI Effects is real there are those who say that it is actually fiction.  Not everyone agrees that three television shows could actually change the manner by which cases are decided in the United States.  Some believe that saying that television shows could change the world is far from reality.

That television has an effect on courtrooms is not disputed.  The television has been one of the most powerful medium of information not only in the United States but in the world.  It has been instrumental in assisting the education of the public.  For instance, the NYPD Blue has been instrumental in educating the public about the Miranda rights.  The Miranda rights refer to the right of the persons who are being arrested to be informed about their right to be silent.

However, there is simply no direct evidence that can conclusively prove that the three CSI television series could actually increase the number of acquittals in criminal cases.  According to Simon Cole and Rachel Dioso (2005), “But to argue that "C.S.I." and similar shows are actually raising the number of acquittals is a staggering claim, and the remarkable thing is that, speaking forensically, there is not a shred of evidence to back it up. There is a robust field of research on jury decision-making but no study finding any "C.S.I. effect." (p.1)

As stated earlier, it is very difficult to establish the extent of the influence of a television show on the mind of the jury.  First, the jurors are precisely chosen because there is a perception that these individuals are known for probity and independence within the community.  They are people who are educated and are supposed to be intelligent.  To say that they are influenced by a television show which is more like a science fiction rather than a real science is preposterous.  Moreover, even if the jurors are actually influenced by televisions it would be difficult to determine whether the television show played a key role in the disposition of the criminal case.

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Essay on CSI Effect - Investigating Whether it is Real

Whether or not the CSI effect is real is a matter that is very difficult to prove.  The influence of the CSI on the minds of the jurors as they deliberate on their verdict in a criminal case is very subjective.  Determining whether the television series actually influences disposition of the cases in the criminal justice system is actually more difficult to prove.  Perhaps, no juror would openly admit that he compares the practices in the CSI and the practices in real-life investigations.  No juror would also admit that he expects the real-life investigators to follow the same procedures being practiced in the CSI.  However, there are certain indicators that can be used to establish that the CSI effect is real.  Some say that these indicators are convincingly enough to establish that the CSI has an effect on the mind of the jurors in the deliberation of the case.

One of the peculiarities in the American legal system, juries are classified as petite or grand (Jeffrey Heinrick, 2006, p. 59).  A petite jury has at least 6 jurors who sit in cases involving misdemeanor.  A grand jury has 12 jurors and deal with offenses involving felonies.

Another peculiarity of the American legal system is the concept known as the plea bargaining.  Plea bargaining is essentially an agreement between the prosecutor and the accused in which the accused pleads guilty in exchange for a lesser sentence or a reduced charge.  It is a recognized procedure and practice in the criminal justice system which aims to reduce the clogging of cases in court.  Cases which are plea bargained never reach the jury for deliberation.  According to statistics, it is estimated that almost 94 percent of all federal-court felony convictions were by guilty plea (Albert W. Alschuler, 2002, p.1).

In a number of cases that are not plea bargained, the jury plays a very important role since it hands down the verdict based on the evidence presented by the prosecution and the defense.  Oftentimes the verdict of the prosecution depends not on the strength of the evidence of the prosecution or the defense but on the manner by which the jury appreciates the evidence presented before them.  In situations where the case could go either way because the evidence is not conclusive enough to make a case for or against the accused, which is often the case in many criminal cases, the jury relies on its instinct in making its decision.  In these situations, the jury often relies on “what they know and feel comfortable with – evidentiary procedures they have viewed on television” ((Jeffrey Heinrick, 2006, p. 59).

The CSI effect played a key role in the case of Robert Blake.  In 2005, Robert Blake was acquitted by the jury for the murder of Bonny Lee Bakley his wife and the mother of his daughter.  It appeared that that Bonny Lee Bakley was shot in the head on May 4, 2001 while she was inside Blake’s car which was in front of an Italian restaurant.  The prosecution thought that they had a strong case against Robert Blake as against Blake’s alibi saying that he went back to the restaurant to get his gun (Jeffrey Heinrick, 2006, p.59).  The prosecution was also able to get two stuntmen who testified that Blake had talked to them about killing his wife.  Though the prosecution believed that they lacked physical evidence to back their case, the testimonial evidence of the two stuntmen compensated for the lack of physical evidence.

One of the jurors, Thomas Nicholson, however, criticized the weak evidence of the prosecution saying that there was no gun shot residue, no blood on the clothing. (Liza Sweetingham, 2005, p.1)  Lori Moore, another member of the jury, said that “we just didn’t have enough evidence to say whether or not he did it. (Liza Sweetingham, 2005, p.1) After the case was decided, the prosecutor even went public to criticize the jury for their incompetence.  He even intimated that the CSI effect was responsible for Blake’s acquittal.

Liza Sweetingham stated that the CSI and the awareness of the advances in science and technology have led the jurors to expect more evidence from the prosecution.  In order to convict they no longer want the evidence to be sufficient to establish proof beyond reasonable doubt.  Rather, these expectations are stretching the standard of proof to beyond all doubt.  In the case of Blake, one of the jurors even thought that it was possible to lift and take multiple fingerprints off a given object and determine its source.  This belief was regardless of the expert witnesses presented by the prosecution to establish how difficult it was to lift prints.

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Essay on CSI Effect - What is CSI Effect?

Crime Scene Investigation, which is also known as the CSI:  Las Vegas, is a crime drama television series in the United States that premiered on CBS last October 6, 2000.  It was created by Anthony E. Zuiker and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer.  It shows the conduct of investigations by a team of forensic scientists who attempt to unravel the circumstances behind mysterious and puzzling deaths and crimes committed within Las Vegas,Nevada.

The television series was a success according Nielsen Ratings as it ranked number one in June 2005 with an average viewership of 16 million a night (“CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” p.1).   The season finale in 2004-2005 was also watched by over 40 million viewers earning it a distinction as one of the most watched television series in history (“CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” p.1).  Because of the monumental success of the CSI, CBS started to produce their own franchise Such as the CSI: Miami and CSI: New York, which are set in  Miami,Florida and New York City, respectively.

As the titles indicate, these shows portray the process of gathering and analyzing forensic evidence found in crime scenes in order to solve crimes.  According to Audrey Lee (2007), “CSI revolves around the Las Vegas Police Department’s Crime Scene Investigation team who use forensic techniques to met out justice on criminals.” Through the use of state of the art technologies and techniques, CSI has captured the heart and mind of the public.

Nevertheless, while the shows apparently claim to be based on science, they are far from being scientific.  From the standpoint of a real forensic scientist, the techniques and methods used in gathering and analyzing forensic evidence are based on fiction rather than true investigative forensic (Tom R. Tyler, p.1052).

Robert Willing stated that some of the science being shown on the screen is state of the art.  Laboratory technicians can lift DNA from cigarette butts, candy wrappers and spit.  However, there are some techniques which are fictional.  For instance, technicians do not pour caulk into knife wounds to make a cast of the weapon as it is not possible to use the same technique on soft tissue.  As of this time, there is also no technology that can determine the cologne from scents found on the clothing.

Despite the fictional representation of forensic science in the television series, CSI has become the center of attention for the mass media.  Particularly, the magazines and the newspapers say the television series as a CSI effect on the people who are its avid viewers and watchers.  Dr. Max Houck said that the CSI effect refers to the perception that the television series has created among its viewers about the infallibility of forensic science in solving crimes (Paul Rincon, 2005, p.1).  According to Paul Rincon, because of the success of CSI in television the people have developed an unrealistic expectation of forensic science.  He said these unrealistic expectations have an impact in the criminal justice system.  He said that one of the evidence of the CSI effect is the increase in the number of evidence being submitted to forensic labs for examination.  Dr. Houck adds that as of 2005 there was an estimated backlog of 200,000 to 300,000 DNA samples in US labs (Paul Rincon, 2005, p.1).

According to Dr. Patricia Mcfeeley, a forensic pathologist, the television series has affected the families of victims who have become dissatisfied with the process of criminal investigation (Paul Rincon, 2005, p.1).  Most of them compare the delivery of the toxicology results in the television series with the delivery in actual laboratories.  They get frustrated when they find out that the toxicology results actually take several months to complete.

In addition, Dr. Houck stated that the CSI has also affected the perception among jurors as they demand that every piece of evidence found in the crime scene to be tested in laboratories (Paul Rincon, 2005, p.1).  Dr. Houck explained that in real-life investigation not all evidence needs to be tested.

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Essay on Impact of Mass Media on Teenage Life

Mass media refers to the tools used to transfer and transmit information, concepts and ideas to general and specific audiences.  Presently, among the most powerful mass media tools that are being used to transfer, convey and transmit information are televisions, movies, internet, books, newspapers, magazines, and radio.  Because it has the capacity to reach out to millions of people at the same time, the mass media today has been considered very useful especially in terms of information dissemination. 

Despite the benefits of mass media, it can also have a negative impact on the lives of young child and teenagers.  Compared to adults who have the ability to discern what is right or wrong young children and teenagers are more receptive to the message being transmitted through the mass media.  While adults are capable of sorting out which messages they receive and useful and which messages are garbage, because of their young age the children are incapable of doing so.  They are therefore more vulnerable to influence than adults, especially when the parents fail to guide their children.

In view of the extent and reach of the mass media, the modern world today is faced with several challenges which must necessarily be addressed.  The developments in internet technology have also started to magnify this problem.  This creates a problem insofar as regulation of the mass media and the monitoring of the information available to the children.

According to Mary Muscari the American children watch an average of 28 hours of television a week.  It is estimated that by the time an average child reaches the age 18, he will have seen 16,000 simulated murders and 200,000 acts of violence (p1). This highlights the problem of parents and lawmakers when the shows watched by children become unregulated and unmonitored.

In 2001, the Los Angeles Times released a news article about a sophomore at a private school in Baltimore County who secretly videotaped himself having sex with a 15-year-old girl and allowed his teammates to watch the video (Kathleen Kelleher, p.2).  When it was discovered the school administrators expelled the sophomore and suspended the students who watched it. 

The behavior may be surprising.  However, the behavior is just an expression of what they see on television.  Being constantly exposed to inappropriate messages about sexuality and even the constant exposure to violence in mass media, the young students nowadays think that sex and violence is normal.  It sends the wrong signal that everyone is doing it and that it happens on a daily basis to every people. 

While there are advocates of censorship on television, there are those who argue that the mass media should not be blamed for the action of the teenagers.  Afterall, “it is not the media’s responsibility to raise children.” (“'Raising children is not media's responsibility'” 1) Moreover, he said that the media is not responsible for “moral corruption, the hole in the ozone layer and even swine flu.” (“'Raising children is not media's responsibility'” 1)

While it may be true that the mass media should not be solely blamed for the present state of moral degradation, violence and corruption in the society it is also true that mass media should learn to accept a great responsibility especially the children.  It cannot continue to deny the fact that sex and violence are graphically being shown in the television and movies nowadays and that the teenagers are being de-sensitized because of constant exposure to what they see on television.  In fact, six medical organizations including the American Academyof Pediatrics and the American Medical Association have released statements that violence in media has an impact on children. (Congressional Public HealthSummit 2) 

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