The CSI Effect occurs when the line between reality and fiction becomes blurred. The name CSI Effect is based on a famous drama series of the same name (CSI: Crime Scene Investigation), in which the characters are forensic investigators based in Las Vegas. It was one of the most famous series in the United States. Due to its popularity, many people have started to believe that everything depicted in the series is real when in reality it is greatly exaggerated. It also caused multiple series to be produced with the same idea; fast-paced, technologically advanced and highly dramatic forensic investigations, such as Without a Trace, Numb3rs and Criminal Minds. We say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay According to a 2006 weekly rating of TV shows, over 30 million people watched CSI: Crime Scene Investigation every night, while over 40 million people watched two other series in the same 'genre.' These series have also influenced jurors' expectations about how quickly real forensic investigators can collect, document, and interpret evidence. Most jurors who have watched these series would ask for DNA evidence for almost any court case, thinking it is relevant to finding the right suspect. This has also led people to believe that forensic evidence can always be accurate and can immediately point to the suspect. In research conducted by Podlas (2006), he assigned a group of mock jurors to render a verdict on several cases. There was almost no variation in their verdict, but those who were avid viewers of the show CSI needed more forensic evidence to validate a conviction, despite this required evidence being redundant or irrelevant. Overall, the CSI effect had led jurors to have higher expectations of forensic investigators. The CSI effect was first mentioned by attorney Andrew Thomas, a district attorney in Maricopa County, Arizona. He said that if the prosecution does not introduce forensic evidence – even if it is irrelevant or unavailable – jurors will refuse to convict or find there is a “reasonable doubt” justifying an acquittal. Despite the popularity of the CSI effect, there is almost no research evidence that directly demonstrates that it can have a significant impact on court decisions. Most of the “evidence” of the CSI effect comes from lawyers and law enforcement officials who were interviewed and said that it actually changed their trial strategies for reaching a verdict. The poll only shows that it affected specific aspects of the trial procedure, but did not significantly influence the jurors' verdict. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Even though CSI Effect is mostly perceived as negative, there are some positive effects that come from it. The most important is that people now appreciate forensic evidence more and are more careful to handle themselves when they find themselves in a situation involving forensic science. Overall, its positive effects cannot outweigh the negative ones since this huge misunderstanding and disproportionate expectations can lead to the unfair prosecution of an innocent defendant..