Cable and satellite television companies provide its customers with hundreds of channels twenty-four hours a day. There are numerous programs that focus on law enforcement, crime, and crime scene investigators. While shows such as CSI, NCIS, or Law and Order may be extremely popular, they are usually far removed from actual police work. Below, is a list of ten myths that are portrayed in crime related television shows.
1. In every show, crimes are solved rather quickly. The beginning of NCIS usually starts with Gibbs, who is the lead investigator, and his team are in the office when the phone rings. That sets the stage for that episode and the investigation begins. By the end of the show, Gibbs and his team have unraveled the plot, determined who the victim was, and arrested the suspect. All this is accomplished every week in an hour timeframe, which includes commercial interruptions. The use of forensics always plays an integral part of the show. This gives the viewers the impression that all cases are solved rather quickly.
2. CSI is another good example that provides the viewing audience a plethora of myths about crime scene analysts. The crack team of CSI agents in Las Vegas is called to a murder crime scene. One of the biggest myths on the show is that they always find quality DNA and evidence. They do this no matter what the crime scene is like such as outside while it is raining or in a crowded gambling casino. The evidence they retrieve is always in immaculate condition. This leaves one with the feeling that there is always evidence left at a crime scene and once collected, the perpetrator of the crime will be caught directly. Also, the CSI team usually apprehends the suspect themselves.
3. The show CSI portrays the CSI agents as the most important team at a murder scene. They seem to call all of the shots, interview witnesses and suspects alike. Once they collect the evidence, they take it back to the lab where they process the evidence themselves.
