Crime thrillers and CSI movies appeal to a wide audience because they feature captivating stories and realistic situations that match real-life scenarios. However, these programs overlook several critical aspects of the actual crime scene and criminal investigations because they mislead individuals into thinking that professionals have an easy time. Contrary to most individuals’ perceptions, CSI work takes time and adheres to a strict protocol. Therefore, these ideas can interfere with people’s judgment when dealing with criminal issues and expose them to harm.
Crime investigation shows differ from actual CSI activities in the time taken to obtain results and techniques adopted to obtain evidence and solve a case. Officers in TV programs connect complex ideas about particular crimes fast and are often quick to apprehend the individuals involved (Baranauskas & Drakulich, 2018). On the other hand, it is difficult to find reliable evidence and arrest individuals in real-life cases because of the complexity of techniques such as fingerprinting and DNA identification. Similarly, TV depicts rouge officers who do anything, including working with ordinary citizens or the victims to obtain results (Štefanac et al., 2022). However, in real cases, officers follow protocol, seek permission before making arrests, and depend on factual data rather than their intuition.
What people see in the media regarding a criminal investigation can encourage them to engage in crime-solving activities. Additionally, these shows alter individuals’ perceptions of the risks involved in dealing with criminal activities. As a result, they may result in adverse outcomes such as injury and interfere with complex evidence in a case (Štefanac et al., 2022). Moreover, these programs can have detrimental implications on the judgment of essential individuals in criminal courts due to the CSI effect. Thus, law enforcement and players in the film industry should inform individuals of these factors and advise them to refrain from CSI duties.
References
Baranauskas, A. J., & Drakulich, K. M. (2018). Media construction of crime revisited: Media types, consumer contexts, and frames of crime and justice. Criminology, 56(4), 679-714.
Štefanac, D., Bašić, Ž., & Kružić, I. (2022). Influences and challenges of the CSI effect-Croatian example. Policija i sigurnost, 31(2022), 14-28. Web.