A police officer in Anchorage, Alaska says she has to deal with the ‘CSI effect’ of people’s perceptions due to the popular CSI TV shows.
I doubt you’ll see this little problem showing up on one of the episodes of CSI: anytime soon:
Her sergeant was getting an aerial look at the scene. He asked his helicopter’s pilot to fly lower to get a better look.
Wind from the chopper’s propellers scattered the placards, obliterating hours of work, Josten said.
Her sergeant felt terrible, Josten said. Nowadays Wasilla Police use placards that can be secured under rocks or heavy …read more

I’ve been thinking recently about various forms of entertainment not being realistic. My most recent thought came after talking with some friends about Bruce Willis’ new movie “Live Free or Die Trying”. There was the scene with the jet fighter that pushed the envelope of what could really happen, and for me it was to the point of being distracting.
I know, I somehow disengaged my brain enough to not think about the absolutely horrible luck that Bruce’s character claims by having been caught in these types of situations for four different times.
Getting back to my point though, should TV shows …read more

One of the topics that’s been at the top of my consciousness lately is the whole idea of the ‘CSI effect’ and whether or not it’s a good or bad thing.
The good side is that more kids and even adults are interested in learning and hearing about the science behind DNA and evidence and trace elements due to their expanding use and discussion topic on TV and now in the paper.
The bad side is that the general public now expect and in fact discredit evidence that’s not based on pure DNA fact or other “science”. That’s not good because an …read more

Karen Taylor, who’s consulted and served as a information resource for the producers of CSI, has now been asked for help by Chicago’s police force.
Detectives are now turning to Karen T. Taylor, a forensic artist who consults for the “CSI” TV series and more recently on the Museum of Science and Industry’s crime scene exhibit. Taylor said she will use her skills as an artist and the information from forensic scientists to try to discern how the woman “looked in life.”
“It’s a very good case because I will be getting lots of sound scientific input,” said Taylor, …read more

Okay, not really, but Suffolk, Virginia is yet another city that’s capitalizing on the popularity of the CSI series and using that popularity to increase and improve interest in education.
Those are just some of the clues that kids participating in the Suffolk Police Department’s first CSI – that is, Crime Scene Investigation – Camp used to solve the cases of a kidnapped girl, a burgled Dairy Queen and a car-jacking in a downtown parking lot.
Forty youngsters, between the ages of 10 and 13, have spent the past three days at the camp, a one-of-a-kind experience for youngsters in Hampton Roads.

It …read more