The CSI Effect

The CSI Effect refers to how popular crime TV shows like "CSI" influence public perceptions of forensic evidence and criminal justice. Viewers often develop heightened expectations that forensic science can quickly solve cases and that evidence like DNA is always definitive. This can impact jury decisions in real trials, making them demand more scientific proof, sometimes leading to misunderstandings about how investigations work. While these shows are entertaining, they can create unrealistic expectations about the speed and certainty of forensic evidence in actual courtrooms.