Episode Analysis

CSI Episode Analysis

Taffy Ro

University of Maryland University College

CCJS 101

Professor Ashley Wang

Introduction:

CSI, abbreviations for Crime Scene Investigation, is a popular television show that is based on crime investigations. The show was created in 2000 by Anthony E. Zuiker, and Ann Donahue. Due to its popularity and high in demand, the seasons are current going. The crime investigations of an elite police group are intense and capture the audience by realistic situations. Although, the situations and parts of the investigations are realistic, not all of their procedures of their investigations are up to par with the actual justice system. Many viewers believe that the CSI procedures and events are real; this is called the CSI effect. Viewers need to be aware that what you see on television is just television. The actual courtroom experience is different and needs to be distinguished. The CSI effect affects jurors of real-life cases. According to Shelton, “In the “every crime” scenario, CSI viewers were more likely to convict without scientific evidence if eyewitness testimony was availble” (p. 5, 2008). CSI, being just a show, does not have enough time to broadcast all the steps and procedures, therefore it may be misleading.

Episode Synopsis:

The episode watched is from Season 2, episode number 4, titled “Bully for you.” There are two scenarios on going. This episode starts off at a school. A student named Barry, also known as a bully, writes graffiti on a student’s locker named Dennis, and gets shot in the school’s bathroom through a window. Investigators then question Dennis. Dennis is considered a suspect because according to the Principal, Barry had always teased Dennis in addition to the Dennis’s locker was always spray painted on by Barry. The investigators then ask for Barry’s shirt to do a forensics examination to find gunshot residue. When examining Barry’s body, they had found a stab wound on his body that was around 6 months...