Media, Crime

The CSI Effect is the belief that popular television§programs like CSI and other shows about law, crime,§and forensics impact real-world perceptions of§criminal justice. Claims of the CSI Effect indicate§that these programs 1) Teach criminals forensic§techniques helpful for avoiding capture 2) Generate§misconceptions about crime investigation and 3) Skew§juror expectations about forensic evidence resulting§in tainted verdicts. This book offers a conceptual§understanding of how the alleged CSI Effect§phenomenon could occur by exploring sociocultural§mechanisms related to media and crime, specifically§the impact of crime genre television on public§understandings of forensic science and criminal§justice. This analysis includes commentary about the§CSI Effect from forensic scientists, law enforcement,§legal professionals, and those in academic and§criminal justice professions. The book contains§useful insight for individuals who watch TV shows§about crime and law, those concerned with the role of§media in justice, law enforcement officials, legal§professionals, and academics in criminology, law,§forensic science, journalism, media, sociology,§psychology, and other related fields.