How Catch A Criminal : Instruments And Techniques Used For Investigations

In 2006, over 100 million people in the United States tuned in to watch either CSI or any if the other forensic and criminal investigation related television show each week (CJSG). Since then, the number of viewers has increased rapidly, as well as the amount of television shows with the same type of theme. As a result of the increase of these television programs, researchers are discovering a new phenomenon called the ‘CSI Effect’ that seems to be fueling an interest in forensic science and criminal investigations nationwide. This effect is actually the ability of criminal justice themed television shows to influence and increase victims’, jurors’ and criminals’ ideas about forensics, DNA testing and methods, and criminal investigations

One major difference I noticed about CSI on T.V. compared to real life is the way that things always seem to be fast and easy when in reality it takes a long time and can be complicated. For instance in many shows such CSI Miami, Bones, etc. when they test blood samples, DNA, fingerprints or other things it seems to only take minutes, when in reality it can take weeks or months to get the actual results. Another thing would be the amount of education and training needed. You must be able to perform many things such as drug analysis, trace evidence and much more. Forensics isn't as easy as just taking pictures and bagging evidence. It requires years of education and months of training which is rarely mentioned in the shows. Some T.V. shows rarely

Nearly anyone you ask would be familiar with the television show CSI. The crime lab is colorful and high-tech with all of the fun toys and machines that analysts use to test the ever abundant amount of forensic evidence from every crime scene. It makes for an exciting drama that you cannot help but get immersed in—it also gives us a false illusion, however, creating what has been dubbed as the “CSI effect” (Baskin, 2011). This effect describes the idea that crime shows such as CSI generate unreal expectations, making viewers believe that forensic evidence should be existent in all criminal trials, therefore affecting their overall perspective on a case (Baskin, 2011). But in reality, forensic labs are not that glamorous. In fact, the

Specialized cameras now allow crime techs to capture entire crime scenes on video for later reference. Therefore, GPS devices and forensic science have also been improved by technology and have enhanced law enforcement organizations’ ability to function.

I agree that our criminal justice system must utilize ways to adapt to the increased expectations of those who we ask to cast votes of guilty or not guilty; keeping in mind that criminals watch television also and there is evidence they are changing their behavior. However, most of the techniques used in crime shows are, at least grounded in truth. CSI collect and analyze evidence,

When it comes to a TV show that depicts Law Enforcement, there are tons of things to choose from. For instance, the ABC television series, Castle, was one of the first things that came to mind. It depicts a New York City Detective who works for the 12th Precinct along with a famous writer who uses her as his muse. They work together as a fierce twosome to solve homicides in the New York City area. In the show, the writers portray law enforcement as those who never give up and fight for justice in their hometown. Detective Beckett, who was one of the main characters in the show, is shown to fight her own battles of not knowing who killed her mother and tracking down all those involved her mother’s murder to seek justice and some revenge.

Not all primetime crime shows are created equal; some bend forensic realities at different degrees than others depending on sub-genre. According to Hon

There has been a lot of research intending to fully discover the extent of the CSI effect television that has found its impact to be negative. Of the multitudes of negative impacts of the CSI effects, among the most prevalent are the unrealistic expectations that viewers have of DNA and other types of forensic evidence in the courtroom. In Ley, Jankowski, and Brewer’s study, they analyzed a large sample of CSI episodes for their content relating to forensic science. The study found that that in 94% of all episodes in the sample the detectives used DNA evidence to solve cases. Also, in 88% of all cases shown, the

On the show “The Mentalist” there is a scene where the main character, Patrick, comes into a crime scene and already knows what happened, who did it, and had them arrested on the spot. While in reality it takes time and evidence to even come up with a suspect. In other cases, there is sometimes hardly any clues to go off and the case might not get solved. Another huge misleading factor is when detective on tv do all the work on a case. When in the real world evidence is sent off to the lab and detectives nor cops can get involved, but instead they have to wait on results and go from there.

Let’s begin with the most known criminal investigation show of all times; CSI. According to Harold Donald E. Shelton, “seventy million individuals have watched at least one of the three CSI Shows” (Shelton, n.d p 2). This series has corrupted individual’s minds, by making them believe that this is how criminal investigators look and work. The CSI effect; the reality is that CSI agents do not wear

The method of inquiry is based on gathering observable, empirical and measureable evidence. Basically, methods of inquiry are ways that an investigator gathers the information for the case that they are investigating. Methods of inquiry are used in criminal investigation by collecting evidence, statement collection, and going through electronic databases and even the internet. The methods of inquiry are all used in conjunction to reconstruct the crime scene. The methods are also used by utilizing the five W’s, who, what, when, where, and why, and also how. There are three methods of inquiry that are used in an investigation and those are authority method,

They have to make sure that before they entered the crime scene, nothing in the scene should have been moved. While they are going through a walk-through, they may have to construct theories about what happened in the crime scene based on visual examination. Investigators have to take photographs of the scene and will later on be collected. Taking photographs of the scene will help them solve the crime because there are some points of the investigation that investigators may have overlooked evidence, and that evidence could be found in the photographs. After taking photographs of the scene, they will start to collect clue and evidence that may lead them to their possible suspect(s). What they may find in the crime scene are fingerprints which can be done using colored powder and a brush, other thizngs such as blood, firearms, hair, glass and many more things that can be found in the crime scenes.

to see if the suspect is anywhere around then they checked to determine the two

Have you ever wondered how police officers know who to arrest for a crime? Well in order to catch criminals, evidence and witnesses must be gathered. Those who perform these tasks are known as detectives. Detectives are also known as criminal investigators. I have always liked solving mysteries and, that is exactly what detectives or criminal investigators do. I was inspired to pursue this career by the television series “Law and Order: Special Victims Unit”. I watch this series a lot and, the show gave me a televised perception of what the career might be like. There are many risks when considering becoming a detective. However, the benefits and end results outweigh the risks and disadvantages of becoming a detective.

Goldstein (2009) recommended that in in the conventional shows based off brutal crimes, individuals of the criminal proceeding world are counting police officers, attorneys, and judges to do the right thing, and are seen in a positive light compared to charged or sentenced hoodlums. Crime TV programs depict the criminal framework in a positive way and portray its individuals as more amiable than the guilty parties. In the past, these shows have based their storyline on the same type of characteristics of criminals. According to Dowler and Zawilski (2007), in police based TV shows, police are appeared as ordinary heroes who battle criminals and solve mysterious crimes. Police officers are depicted as caring, touchy, and in tune.