Hollywood Profiling: The impact of the CSI Effect on the use of forensic science in New South Wales

Abstract

Since 2000 the CBS television programme, 'CSI: Crime Scene Investigation', has made forensic science look quick and easy. 'CSI', and similar shows such as 'Law and Order SVU: Special Victims Unit', 'NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigation Service', and 'Criminal Minds', routinely use forensic science to accurately identify offenders. Science is portrayed as the overarching truth that exposes the lies of the offender and provides certainty in an investigation. It has been argued that the popularity of these programmes has led many jurors to now expect to see the CSI-like 'technical wizardry' in the courtroom, and when the prosecution fail to produce such 'reliable and objective' results, the jury fail to convict a defendant. This phenomenon has been dubbed the CSI Effect by journalists and academics, and there is strong evidence to suggest that the popularity of these television programmes are having a widespread impact on criminal justice systems around the world. This paper explores some of the impacts that the CSI Effect is having on the New South Wales criminal justice system, and the implications of these changes for the way forensic science is used in both the investigation and prosecution of criminal offences.