Crime Shows on TV and the Implication on Society

There sure are a number of crime shows on TV like Cops and CSI. One has to ask if this promotes crime, or deters it. It would be nice if we could have really interesting shows on TV, which actually deterred crime. But if we glorify some of the crimes or we teach people new ideas of how to commit crimes, then away we are guilty of promoting crime. We have enough crime in our society; every society does regardless of the country.

High crime rates are very damaging to a society because it destroys the public trust between each of the members of the society. When a population cannot trust itself, people look inward to their families and small groups, and are less cordial when out in public. Further, it creates paranoia and everyone is worried that the next person they meet might be a criminal.

Additionally, it should be noted that most of the masses of populations have surrendered their minds to the TV set. So they take in to account what they see on TV and add this to their memory, it affects their behavior, their choices, and even their consumerism. I'd say it also allows them to modify their behavior, or accept criminality, or try to become more sneaky in the crimes they commit. There is nothing noble about promoting crime on TV.

Worse, some of the crimes that have been very, very, rarely are seen on TV, and that leads people to believe that these crimes are happening more often even when they are not. It gives people a false sense of reality. There's nothing healthy about that and it's something we should all think about, so please consider all this.

Lance Winslow is a retired franchisor - Lance Winslow's Bio. Lance Winslow is formerly the CEO of WashGuys family of franchises for instance one of Lance Winslow's favorite companies on the team; http://www.windowwashguys.com/links.shtml.

Crime Shows - Fine Tuning the Criminal Mind?

There are numerous crime shows filling the prime time slots. And you can find some version of Law and Order, CSI etc. on at any time of day on a number of channels. The writers are increasingly creative and have a tireless supply of inspiration from real life events that they can put various spins on. The actors are dedicated and the directors are creating stories that are engaging and elicit emotional responses.

I know that personally they are my favorite thing to tune in to when I watch television. I watch a complicated crime unfold and the story develop around it until the criminals minimal error is exposed and the perp is collared! Usually this error is exposed by using a combination of a mastermind underpaid detective and the limitless resources of forensic science. I have often feared that this information may be misinterpreted by some as instruction. The program lays out how to commit the crime, what errors to avoid and if arrested how to see your trial through to acquittal.

The truth of the matter is that the numerous crime shows and frequency with which they air are in fact having an effect on real-world expectations. This effect has earned its own buzz phrase named the "CSI Effect" which is also referred to as the "CSI Syndrome". This effect is described as the viewing of crime shows raising victims and jury members expectation of forensic science. The television writers can overstate the accuracy of forensic techniques as well as exaggerate the ability of forensic science. The expectations of crime scene investigation and DNA testing are especially affected. Prosecutors are being pressured to present more forensic evidence in court. Potential jurors are sometimes asked if they are viewers of Forensic Crime shows as this trend is being considered.

In a similar vein, there are findings that suggest that forensic science shows help criminals cover their tracks. According to Joshua Marquis, an Oregon prosecutor, "It's not uncommon for criminals to now bring bleach with them to sanitize the crime scene." Criminals are learning what not to leave behind at crime scenes and getting much better at covering their tracks. Crime show effects on criminals can also be looked at on a flip side which is much more positive. It is likely that the message being conveyed to many is that no matter how they try to cover their crime, forensic science will reveal their identity.

Whether we look at the positive or negative effects on the criminal, victim or juror, the cultivation theory is supported by any one of the findings. The cultivation theory holds that television cultivates a distorted world view in which one's perception of social reality resembles the reality portrayed in the television program. When looking at crime shows, the cultivation theory would say that the impact on an individual would be the tendency to overestimate the rate of violent crime or the prevalence of law enforcement officials.

We are exposed to a plethora of crime shows. The writers are increasingly creative and have a tireless supply of inspiration from real life events. And it seems that life events are being equally affected by the shows themselves! The emotional responses that these shows tend to elicit are carried over into our views, opinions and expectations of real life scenarios.

Computer Learning Software [http://www.thesoftwarespot.com] for Kids.

Please visit us at The Software Spot!

True Crime Scene Investigations - How Do the TV Shows Measure Up?

There are numerous shows on TV these days that deal with Crime Scene Investigating (CSI). With over 80 channels on most basic cable providers it is a challenge for the avid fan of "True Crime" style programs to keep up with all the homicidal maniacs canvassing the broadcast world. There has always been crime dramas such as NYPD Blue and the long ago Dragnet, but the TV shows today approach crime scene investigating in a more sophisticated approach. Don't they?

Yes and no.

A true crime lab used for CSI work is a bright uninviting place stacked with case files and evidence waiting to be tested. Most CSI or Law Enforcement style programs convey the labs to be a dark place with colored gelled lights in the background to add ambiance. They show Lab Techs working with bullet fragments pulled from a dead body in almost complete darkness. If a CSI Detective needs fingerprints, found on a weapon or an object at the crime scene, processed; it is usually done by a local lab person. This is done because most murder investigations are attempted to be solved in the first 48 hours. In addition, Crime Scene Investigators don't usually have access to a crime lab. They are usually denied access to preserve the chain-of-evidence. Can you imagine detectives walking through a crime lab with evidence laid out from murders or suicides? Defense Lawyers could easily demonstrate that evidence may have been tampered with.

To add drama to the CSI style shows there usually is a love affair or turmoil that is happening in the personal lives of the CSI detectives. This is where today's crime programs have become more "True Life". Everybody has sometime of drama in their life. Someone is dying or gambling problems or even their kids are getting in trouble.

Imagine Dragnet Detective Joe Friday having a relationship with a witness? What a dry story there.

True Crime is all around us - so why do people watch the fiction instead of picking up a True Crime Book? It is because the human side of these dramas. When someone commits suicide on a show the detectives have to go deeper into the life of the person that killed themself. They visit with the mother and the boss and everyone tells their story, and then at the end of the climax it is found out it wasn't a suicide but a homicide. The person was murdered because they were secretly part of the mafia. The twist of a dramatic story.

The truth is suicides and murders are usually what they appear to be. Rarely is a suicide investigated and found to be a homicide. Most suicides end with no doubts. Detectives rarely have time to investigate the reason of the suicide.

At the Las Vegas Stratosphere there have been four people that have jumped from the top of the 1100 foot tower. No detective work needed. It is usually left to the families to figure out their loved one did it.

Often TV Programs, such as CSI Las Vegas wrap a crime up in just a few days. That is not always the case. During true homicide cases, such as Tupac Shakur, the crimes go unsolved for years or forever.

In contrast, the key goal of any homicide examination is to complete it in 48 hours. The reasons are simple.

1) Witnesses begin to forget key details. Try and remember your day to day details from just 48 hours ago. Something key you did that could easily be forgotten.

2) In the first 48 hours of the crime analysis a suspect has the time to make preparations to flee or has already fled and is making their way out of the area.

3) Tracking useful evidence. Key evidence such as fingerprints, blood, body fluids, witness recollection, and even text messages all have a rate of decay.

In summary, the CSI and other crime detective shows do have the drama of life fairly accurate, but procedurally the shows are routinely off.

This article is written by Jeff Terrozas. Jeff is an contributing author to the new book Vegas Strip Deaths at http://www.vegasstripdeaths.com.
Vegas Strip Deaths is a true crime book based on the Real CSI Las Vegas files. Murder Suicides and Unusual Deaths are covered in detail in the comprehensive guide to the sinister side of Las Vegas.