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Community Members’ Perceptions of the CSI Effect

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Abstract

The CSI Effect is the notion that crime show viewing influences jurors to have unrealistic expectations of forensic evidence, which then affects their trial decisions. Analyses of popular media shows that the media portrays the effect as a real problem, and research surveying the legal community indicates that they believe the CSI Effect exists and may change their investigation and trial strategies accordingly. The present study expanded on this research by surveying community members regarding their perceptions of the CSI Effect. Community members reported their general television and crime show viewing behaviors, and we examined this in relation to their knowledge construction of the CSI Effect. Findings indicate that overall, the majority of community members did not have knowledge of the CSI effect, but those who did perceive it as an unrealistic expectation of evidence. When provided with a definition of the CSI Effect, people generally believed it exists. Additionally, crime show viewing and participant’s race influenced people’s perceptions of the CSI effect. Limitations of this study and directions for future research are also discussed.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Kristen Hamilton and Chelsey Thorp for their invaluable assistance on this project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology, Anthropology & Social, Central Michigan University, 131 Anspach, Mt. Pleasant, MI, 48859, USA

    Rebecca M. Hayes

  2. Department of Sociology and Criminology & Law, University of Florida, P.O. Box 117330, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA

    Lora M. Levett

Authors
  1. Rebecca M. Hayes
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  2. Lora M. Levett
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rebecca M. Hayes.

Additional information

Portions of this research were presented at the 2009 meetings of the American Society of Criminology in Philadelphia, PA.

Appendix

Appendix

The forensic dramas were Body of Evidence, Bones, Cold Case, Criminal Minds, Crossing Jordan, CSI, CSI Miami, CSI New York, In Justice, NCIS, Numb3rs, and The Evidence. The forensic documentaries were Cold Case Files, Forensic Files, The First 48 Hours, The New Detectives, Trace Evidence, 48 Hours Mystery. The general crime documentaries were American Justice, America’s Most Wanted, COPS, The FBI Files, The Investigators, and The System. The general crime/courtroom dramas were Law & Order, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Law & Order: SVU, Medium, Prison Break, and Without a Trace. The general news/crime news shows were Boston Legal, Conviction, 60 Minutes, Dateline, Catherine Crier, Nancy Grace and The Abrams Report

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Hayes, R.M., Levett, L.M. Community Members’ Perceptions of the CSI Effect. Am J Crim Just 38, 216–235 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12103-012-9166-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12103-012-9166-2

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