6533b7d8fe1ef96bd126a284
RESEARCH PRODUCT
The CSI-education effect: Do potential criminals benefit from forensic TV series?
Elisabeth CzernikAnne BurkhardtHeiko HechtAndreas M. Baranowskisubject
Sociology and Political Science05 social sciencesSample (statistics)CriminologyForensic science03 medical and health sciences0302 clinical medicineCSI effectPolitical Science and International Relations050501 criminologyCrime statisticsCrime sceneDark figure of crime030216 legal & forensic medicineDetection ratePsychologyLaw0505 lawdescription
Abstract Forensic series have become popular over the last two decades. They have raised the importance of forensic evidence in the eyes of the public (CSI effect). However, it has not been investigated to what extent criminals may learn about forensic evidence through these shows. We used multiple approaches to tackle this potential CSI-education effect. First, we analyzed crime statistics for crime and detection rate. Second, we asked convicted criminals about their impressions about the usefulness of crime shows for covering up a crime. Third, we asked fans of crime series and a control group of non-watchers to slip into the role of a criminal by enacting the cleaning up a murder crime scene. Finally, a sample of 120 subjects had to clean up the scene of a would-be murder using a model. In none of these experiments did we find supportive evidence for the CSI-education effect.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-03-01 | International Journal of Law, Crime and Justice |