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Zivi Sokolic
Research in Forensic Science
Forensic Science Thesis
Professor Scanlan
4/27/15
Research Proposal
Criminal justice and forensic science television shows have become increasingly
popular in the last decade. This entertainment trend has lead to an influx of students
pursuing forensic science career paths in universities across the country. However, what
these courageous young people are discovering is that the true field and lab work is not
always what the media might suggest. The unrealistic portrayal of forensic science
through media misinformation and Hollywood glamor is commonly regarded as The
CSI effect. Through the unyielding influence of the media, The CSI Effect sculpts the
publics view of forensic specialists and perhaps even affects the daily work of these
professionals.
As an advertising major and forensic science minor, I would like to combine my
Mass Communication skills with my forensic science background to create an interactive,
multimedia presentation. This project will use real-life scenarios and professional
insights to evaluate the myths and misconceptions of The CSI Effect. This thesis
project will also include primary and secondary research to establish how The CSI
Effect influences young adults perceptions of forensic science as well as its effects on
crime lab and crime scene professions. Please join me in art of busting the myths about
the science and exposing true forensics to the public.

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Abstract:
The media can be a powerful influencer. It is a window into niches of the world
that may otherwise go unnoticed or undocumented. In recent years, crime-related
television programs have skyrocketed to the top of the ratings charts. Interest in these
programs has translated into an interest in the forensic science field. With fictional
entertainment as the main source of forensic science information for most people, it is not
wonder that there are some misconceptions. There have been many studies conducted on
The CSI Effect, or the heightened evidentiary expectations of jurors based upon media
misinformation and how it may effect prosecutors or offenders. However, there has been
minimal research on how these misconceptions affect the men and women in forensic
science professions. This paper uses secondary resources about The CSI Effect to
establish an existence of the large-scale phenomenon. Primary research in the form of a
71-person survey and one-on-one interviews with professionals were implemented to fill
the void still left behind by secondary academic sources and gain insight into the
evolving field of forensic science. Surveys and secondary research confirm that there is a
distinct coloration between crime television viewership, belief of common
misconceptions, and expectation of definitive forensic evidence. As hypothesized, and
validated by interviews and secondary research, the increased expectations and general
interest forensic science have caused dramatic changes in the forensic science job market,
for better and for worse. The field becomes increasingly competitive as more individuals
and universities embrace the academic training programs, while job numbers sluggishly
increase. Please visit www.media-and-forensics.wix.com/home to view the full,
interactive version if this project.

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Medias Mental Strong-Arm on Forensic Science Through Hollywood Branding
The unrealistic portrayal of forensic science through media misinformation and
Hollywood glamor is commonly regarded as The CSI effect (Shelton, 2008). Extensive
research has been conducted on how The CSI Effect shapes a jurys view of the
criminal justice system, in the form of a higher expectation of physical evidence to
produce a guilty verdict. However, little has been researched about how such shows are
affecting forensic science as a profession (Travis, 2015). Through extensive primary and
secondary research, the untold story of the evolving forensic profession can be brought to
the surface. Through the unyielding influence of the media, The CSI Effect uses
misconceptions and unrealistic expectations to sculpt the publics view of forensic
specialists and affects the daily work of these professionals both positively and
negatively.
In the twenty-first century, with the invention of the Internet, broadcast television
and smart phones, heaps of information are literally at ones fingertips. This means that it
is now easier than ever before to become a self-proclaimed expert and develop
preconceived notions about on any given topic (Travis, 2015). Though there is nothing
wrong with seeking knowledge, all information must be taken from within its context
(Maeder and Corbett, 2015, p. 84). For example, fictional crime dramas that depict the
role of forensic science in solving crimes have been increasingly popular over the last
decade and should be interpreted as entertainment (Harriss, 2011, p. 3). What some refer
to as a technological phenomenon has on the more than 67 million people tuning into CSI
weekly (Dysart, 2012). Many shows like CSI suggest that forensic evidence is key to
obtaining information on crimes and that the scientific findings are more reliable than

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witness testimony from people who may be erred or biased (Harriss, 2011, p. 4). Just as
viewers recognize human error and bias in the real criminal justice system, they must also
recognize the theatric spin on the forensic field within in television shows from which
people are getting their information. As more self-proclaimed forensic science experts
emerge, the professional world of forensic science faces pressures to evolve into a
speedy, foolproof system, as seen in the media (Maeder and Corbett, 2015, p. 84-85).
Although many researchers speak to the power of the media, in influencing jury
expectations, some believe that theses influences are not simply a product of media, but
that a popular culture intertwined with technology, creates a tech effect, not a CSI
effect (Shelton, 2008). A typical definition of The CSI Effect may not credit all the
factors of todays viral nation filled with digital natives. This theory suggests that jurors
have come to redefine beyond a reasonable doubt to mean beyond any doubt, in that
a jurors understanding of guilt is hindered by his or her reliance on technology to
provide an irrefutable answer (Dysart, 2012). When such an answer is not clearly
presented due to lack of funding, manpower, time or technology the jurors may then
assume that there was no crime committed by the defendant (Dysart, 2012). One such
television drama that perpetuates this myth is Body of Proof, a drama about a medical
examiner who oftentimes will utter, no body, no crime, but the idea that the absence of
physical objects means that there was no crime committed is simply false. For example, it
is possible to find a primary murder scene without a secondary murder scene or a blood
spatter pattern with a void, indicating a missing object (Saviano, Allgood and Malone,
2010, p. 19-26). A forensic scientist is meant to analyze present evidence to the best of
his or her abilities, not to become technological crutch (Shelton, 2008).

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Another way to examine the so-called tech effect is within the context of a
string of other effects which cohabitate a web surrounding forensic science and criminal
justice. Nothing exists within a vacuum, and there are also several other theorized effects
that link criminal justice pressures to those of forensic scientists. One judge remembers:
a number of trials in the last several years or so has witnessed defendants
increasinglytaking advantage of the CSI effect by asking witnesses about tests
they know were not conducted and contending in closing argument that the failure
to test raises reasonable doubt. They are taking appropriate advantage of a
different kind of proof expectations with which some jurors come into the
courthouse in the last several years as a result of these programs. It would be
nave not to recognize and acknowledge all of this (qtd. in Cole and Dioso-Villa,
2011, p. 20).
It should be understood that this judge is speaking about the possibility of The CSI
Effect in its most basic form: its influence on jurors and the court system. However,
when broken down into a causal chain between the juror, judge, and lawyers, concerns
arise and the overlooked tech effect pressures on forensic scientists come to light (Cole
and Dioso-Villa, 2011, p. 20-22).
The cause and effect chain of influencers begins with the traditional CSI Effect, in
which jurors expect more forensic evidence in cases. It then stems off to create what is
known as a weak prosecutors effect and a defendants effect (Cole and Dioso-Villa,
2011, p. 22). These effects are characterized by the amount of forensic evidence available
to a prosecutor within a given case and how he or she strategizes to win the case, based
on an assumption that The CSI Effect is present. A weak prosecutor will compensate

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for a lack of forensic evidence by ordering unnecessary forensic tests, talking about
CSI in summation or by stressing negative-evidence testimony (Cole and Dioso-Villa,
2011, p. 22). The defendants effect conversely claims that the heroic portrayals of
forensic scientists empower both the prosecutor and an forensic science expert witness by
increasing their credibility and allowing them to rely heavily upon theses findings to
make a case against the defendant (Cole and Dioso-Villa, 2011, p. 22).
Another effect that increases the difficulty of a forensic technicians job is the
police chief effect (Cole and Dioso-Villa, 2011, p. 22). This effect claims that criminals
have learned how to avoid leaving certain kinds of forensic evidence, such as wearing
gloves to avoid leaving fingerprints, by watching shows like CSI. If criminals leave less
evidence than before these crime dramas become popular, and the jurors influenced by
these same shows expect the presence of more evidence to grant a conviction, then the
odds of real-word forensic professionals meeting the jurors expectations decrease. If
there is less evidence to be found, a scientist cannot be expected to analyze a more,
nonexistent evidence. This is yet another pressure stacked upon forensic professionals
due to media influence on others (Cole and Dioso-Villa, 2011, p. 22-23). In looking at the
tech effect as the product of other CSI-related effects, some forensic professional find
that at times it makes it nearly impossible for us, [to do our jobs] (qtd. in Cole and
Dioso-Villa, 2011, p. 21).
A few forensic professionals and researchers speak to the power of The CSI
Effect on forensic expert witnesses within the courtroom. Though prosecution lawyers
bear the bulk of the pressures from juries to produce evidence, it is ultimately the forensic
science professionals who are put in the hot seat, sometimes literally (Stevens). Andrea

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Travis, the Quality Assurance Manager and former Drug Analyst for Jefferson Parish
Sheriffs Office crime laboratory, admits that although she believes it is good for jurors to
want to see evidence, she frequently feels that jurors have unrealistic expectations of
forensic science capabilities and preconceived notions of what the evidence should
look like in a particular case based on what they have seen about similar cases in the
media (Travis, 2015). Travis explains, when you (a forensic scientist acting as an expert
witness) walk into a courtroom, jurors expect to see forensic results and sometimes they
dont understand that thats just not needed [or] possible, especially in 5 minutes
(Travis, 2015). On the stand, forensic professionals oftentimes must answer weak
prosecutor questions as to why certain tests were not run or why evidence was not found
(Cole and Dioso-Villa, 2011, p. 22). In fact, A primary research survey conducted using
Google Survey suggests that 69% of participants did, in fact, expect an explanation for
missing physical evidence. Whether the evidence was never present, or the backlog on
evidence leaves some pieces untested before trial, people typically want to know why
there isnt always a clear answer to a case (Travis, 2015).
Forensic technologies are becoming sensationalized through the media and people
now not only expect a variety of tests results which all point to one criminal, they also
expect that these results come quickly (Fienberg, 2007, p. 285). This sense of urgency is
the first thing Gene Rauch, the Senior Firearms Examiner at Jefferson Parish Sheriffs
Office crime laboratory describes in a typical day at work. She states, we come in at
8am and check if there were any cases overnight that we need to get on top of and work
quickly [on] (Rauch, 2015). Although a sense of urgency exists in the workplace, the
notion that forensic laboratories use technologies to produce results, and therefore justice,

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in under an hour is a complete myth. Unfortunately, very few tests are ready from start to
finish within an hour or less (Fienberg, 2007, p. 285). Depending on the department,
some types of evidence take longer than others to get tested. For example, firearm
evidence is almost always tested before a case goes to trail, but latent print analyses
usually face a backlog. It will get tested, but it will take a little bit longer (Travis,
2015). Other types of evidence are not automatically tested, as it may not always be the
most efficient use of laboratory resources, time or manpower. For example, if [forensic
scientists] had to analyze every piece of drug evidence that came into the lab, [labs]
would be in trouble (Travis, 2015). Travis insists that although not everything is tested
right away, everything that is relevant to a case will be tested on an as needed basis. We
dont analyze [drug evidence] unless we get a request from the district attorneys office
Its secure If we need to test it three years later, we can, but we dont test it until the
person is being charged or the case is going to court (Travis, 2015). With real-life
limitations, such as funding, technologies, personnel and time, forensic scientists have to
use discretion in testing each piece of evidence, subsequently leaving themselves open to
potential criticisms.
The pressures placed on such individuals can have both positive and negative
consequences for the overall reputation of the science. As time passes and more juries
decide cases based on forensic evidence, especially DNA evidence, the credibility of
forensic scientists is impoving. DNA evidence has become the gold standard and
overturned many older verdicts, as seen in several CSI shows (Fienberg, 2007, p. 285).
The prestige of the forensic field continues to grow as accreditations, education and
general interest advance (Travis, 2015).

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Quality control is nothing new to the forensics field. Although the National
Institute if Justice and United States Government does not guarantee the accuracy of any
of the information that may be stored on forensic databases, accreditation opportunities
have empowered crime labs to become self-regulating and trusted to produce accurate
results. (Bowen and Schneider, 2007; Accreditation of Entities, 2013, p. 1-2). In 1974,
the National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME) was one of the first
accreditation bodies and began the standardization of practices within medical examiners
offices. Over time, many other types of accreditations have been offered, or even
required, for forensic crime lab operation and to receive federal funding. Each
accreditation body ensured that each agency was formally reviewed by an impartial party
to ensure the entity is conducting its operations in a manner consistent with national or
international standards (Accreditation of Entities, 2013, p. 1). Though there has
historically been a steady shift in types of accreditations available, some professionals
feel that this years changes are positively notable. Travis says, there definitely is a CSI
Effect out there [its a] good thing because it has brought awareness to the [forensic
science] field. there needs to be some accountability to crime labs and I think [the new]
accreditation covers that (Travis, 2015). Travis refers to the change in accreditation at
her workplace just recently in January 2015, in which the crime lab switched from a
Forensic Quality Services (FQS) accreditation to ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation
Board (ANAB). These bodies merged to better accommodate the customers and reach the
ISO 17025 document standards for crime laboratories nationally. With this simple entity
merger and other accreditation bodies like ASCLAS/LAB available, Travis and jurors
alike can validate their beliefs in secure lab results. Regardless of whether this belief

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comes from Studying Science at Louisiana State University or watching the big screen,
people are now able to focus less on the skepticisms brought about by high profile media
scandals. (Travis, 2015).
The desire for scientists to meet newer, higher evidentiary expectations may be a
motivator for some, but others can cave to the pressures in unethical ways. One example
of how media pressures can create ethically questionable forensic results is in the case of
President John F. Kennedys assassination. Though no one can say for sure if these
results were real or fabricated, many harbor suspicion of the forensic evidentiary findings
in this high-profile situation and therefore cast doubt on the credibility of the overall
forensic science field, which already faces critics who scoff at the qualitative nature of
some tests. In the Kennedy case, bullets were found in 1963 in the location where the
president was shot and killed. A box of bullets was also recovered from the same batch
purchased and fired by Lee Harvey Oswald, the convicted killer. The discovery seemed a
little too convenient for some news stations and caused a media uproar implying foul play
on the part of forensic scientists and investors. This is just an example of how even
though dramatizations of the criminal justice field may install trustworthiness for forensic
science, some news and reality driven media can also counter this credibility (Fienberg,
2007, p. 285).
Before one can hold the media exclusively liable for national trends within a
profession, a correlation between the media and forensic misconceptions must be proven.
According to one study in which 1,027 random American jurors participated in mock
trials, The CSI Effect in terms of evidentiary expectations is viewed as factual. This
survey showed an elevated expectation by CSI and Law and Order viewers for DNA,

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fingerprint, ballistic and firearm evidence, across seven different types of criminal cases
(Shelton, 2008).
Many take for granted research on a correlation between crime show viewership
and legal misconceptions and pressures, but for the purposes of this paper, a primary
research survey was conducted to relate The CSI Effect directly to forensic science.
There is much research on how The CSI Effect puts pressure on persecutors via high
jury evidentiary expectations, yet there is little information specifically on common
forensic perceptions in relation to television viewership (Travis, 2015). In order to
confirm or refute a correlation between crime show viewership and forensic evidentiary
misconceptions and perceptions, a small, 71-person survey was comprised, specifically
for this research project, of a non-random sample to answer a number of questions about
television viewership habits and forensic science misconceptions. This sample was only
selected by the willingness of friends, coworkers and acquaintances to take the survey.
The ages ranged from 18 to 65. College majors ranged from none to Education and
Graphic Design and occupations ranged from Carpenter to Homemaker to Cardiovascular
Invasive Specialist. Though the sample is too small and unregulated to give a definitive
answer to whether crimes show viewership influences forensic perceptions, it is a
valuable representation of a common theme amongst the every-man and supplements
other, secondary research. The survey and its results are available online at www.mediaand-fornsics.wix.com/home.
The results of the Google primary research survey reveal that, over all, those who
watch crime dramas regularly do not have higher expectations of forensic science
technologies and are no more prone to believing misconceptions. More specifically, only

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25.4% of participants said they had heard of the term The CSI Effect, yet 57.7% (more
than twice the number of people familiar with the term) were able to correctly define The
CSI Effect when given four possible definitions. This could imply that people are
subconsciously more aware of concepts that they may not necessarily be able to name.
Another key finding is that although participants expect to see evidence or a
justification for lack of evidence, they do not blame forensic scientists for unsolved
crimes. When asked to list one common reason that crimes go unsolved answers ranged
from human error to money; ultimately, however, 46.5% cited lack of evidence and two
additional people answered no body. These results indicate that participants believe
evidence is key to solving crimes, yet when asked to place blame on a person for these
occurrences, not a single person pointed the finger at forensic scientists and lab
technicians. Instead, police were the number one professionals faulted for unsolved
crimes. The primary research survey findings are contrary to the pressures forensic
professionals like Rauch and Travis believe are very real (Travis, 2015; Rauch, 2015).
One journal from Carleton University introduces a theory that could help better
make sense as to why the primary research survey results did not fully support the
existence of a forensic CSI effect. This theory suggests that perceived realism, not
viewership habits, is the true backbone of The CSI Effect. The author elaborates on the
idea that not all those who watch CSI or other crime dramas are equally affected. Instead,
the true measure of how much influence these types of media has on an individuals
perceptions of forensic science is the degree to which that person believes crime dramas
and other media to be an accurate depiction of real life (Maeder and Corbett, 2015, p. 84).
An Indiana University of Pennsylvania study of 79 non-random mock jurors supports the

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perceived realism theory in finding information that suggests that sub-genre viewership is
important to consider when examining a possible CSI Effect. The jurors dove into a
virtual murder trial and there was found to be a higher acquittal rate by jurors who were
heavy fictional crime show viewers than those who watch other crime sub-genres or do
not watch crime shows at all (Mancini, 2013, p. 54-60).
The perceived realism theory could explain why misconceptions were no more
present among crime show viewers and non-viewers. This concept can be further
illuminated by the 88.7% of primary research survey participants who did not agree that
with the question that states: Shows depicting Forensic Science professionals are always
accurate because the actors study professionals. Only 2.8% thought this statement was
true, and 8.5% were unsure. The same individuals who answered true or unsure
about television realism, had a 5 in 8 chance of also wanting to be given an explanation
from a professional as to why no biological evidence was found at a crime scene. Perhaps
the surveys small sample size is a respectable indicator of how perceived realism may
mold the forensic science world.
Heightened stresses are indeed a felt reality for forensic professionals, even if
surveys indicate that accountability pressures are not directly from jurors or the public.
Perhaps the biggest pressures are more internal. These internal pressures can be deferred
from lawyers who are expected to produce evidence to juries in the courtroom in an
accurate and timely manor fast or through new regulations in the forensic science field
(Mancini, 2013, p. 54-60; Rauch, 2015).
There is another formative pressure that cannot be overlooked: a rise in
professional interest. With a boom in popularity of crime dramas over the last decade,

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there is now a new generation of students with an interest in forensic science (Jackson,
2009, p. 2). The number of people interested in pursuing careers in forensic science
yields a larger pool of applicants for employers to choose from than in past decades.
More options for employers can positively influence the field in that the most qualified
and educated applicants are entrusted with the task of helping their city or county find
justice (Travis, 2015).
Although the standard education level for an entry-level forensic technician is a
Bachelors of Science, there are emerging opportunities in colleges and universities
across the country to specialize in forensic science at a Bachelors and Masters level.
Many schools have started to add more forensic degrees and courses of study to their
curriculum (Travis, 2015; Forensic Science Technicians, 2014). In a study that
measured trends in university forensic science, forensic chemistry, and criminology
programs from 1977 to 2007, there are notable spikes in the number of undergraduate
degrees available in years shortly following premieres of popular crime dramas. The most
notable increases happened about four to six years after Law & Order first aired and
again two years after CSI first aired. These programs not only provide more opportunity
for aspiring professionals (or non-degree seekers) to learn, but they also further grooming
the new workforce so that they may be better prepared to serve (Jackson, 2009, p. 3).
The other end of the expanding applicant spectrum is that there is now a greater
need for aspiring professionals to stand out in whatever way possible, as to not be left
unemployed. The Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that job competition has
substainial[ly] increase[d] over the last decade, and these numbers show no signs of
declining any time soon. Since 9 in 10 forensic technicians work directly for their state or

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local governments, the field is a different structure than other positions that increase via
capitalistic means. In 2012, there were only 12,900 forensic science technician positions
were available nationally. Forensic science job growth is expected to be about 6% in a
10-year time span, which is almost half that of the 11% average growth projected for
most job markets (Forensic Science Technicians, 2014).
One way to stand out in the competitive forensic job market is to seek out a higher
degree from one of the new university programs. Just as accreditation bodies standardize
crime labs, there has been an effort to standardize university programs and ensure that
students get the most out of their forensic degrees. As of 2008 there were 12 accredited
Bachelors-level programs and seven masters-level programs (Jackson, 2009, p. 4). This
is an opportunity to specialize that may not have been as easily accessible years ago.
Quality Assurance Manager Andrea Travis and Firearm Examiner Gene Rauch were both
fortunate enough to have the opportunity to seek degrees in their fields of interest, but not
without a few compromises. Travis has a Bachelors of Science in Medical Technology
from LSU New Orleans. She then had to travel to Alabama, despite her love for her home
state of Louisiana, to reach her goal of a Masters of Forensic Science (Travis, 2015).
Rauch earned a Bachelors of Science in Forensic Chemistry from The University of
Mississippi, police officer certification and an online masters degree in pharmacology.
She explains that she chose to study pharmacology online because it was the way she
could keep her position at Jefferson Parish Sheriffs Office and seek out a forensicrelated Masters degree. Rauch explains that the term pharmacology is misleading
because her coursework was actually based on forensic science. She states, usually,
[when testifying in court,] I just say I have a Masters of Science so they dont ask any

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more questions, (Rauch, 2015). These two ambitious women were able to develop their
careers by pursuing educational opportunities.
The down side to increased opportunity for forensic degrees is that, now,
enrollment rates are skyrocketing, and more applicants are receiving degrees in forensic
science. The same programs that were meant to make applicants stand out in the job
market are now entertained by a large population. In effect, the university programs,
which have come to fruition based on a raised awareness and interest in forensic science,
could slowly become a standard of entry-level forensic technician employment (Stevens,
2008). The fact that a degree could become an industry standard is not inherently bad, as
many professions, such as doctors or lawyers, already require high-level degrees and
training. However, research shows that these programs may provide only a theoretic
basis for forensic scientist and not the operational experience of working in a laboratory.
As a result, there is little impact on the length of training required by an operational
forensic science laboratory once a college graduate is hired (Stevens, 2008). Though
learning theory is helpful in gaining a foundation in forensic science, the question then
becomes, how much theory can a university teach before it becomes nonconductive to
becoming a good, technical employee?
High enrollment rates are not just affecting future forensic scientists. Young
students who have developed an interest in the forensic science field via the media are
being coerced into pursuing a degree in the subject, yet many do not know what they are
signing up for (Stevens, 2008; Weaver, Salamonson, Koch, and Porter, 2012, p. 387388). Shows like CSI paint a picture of forensic science as a glamorous field job where
forensic scientists wear high heals and drive hummers, when in reality, were normal,

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scientific and a little bit nerdy (Rauch, 2015). People dont realize the monotonous day
to day work and scientific skill required to fulfill these positions (Travis, 2015; Rauch,
2015). In a study where several forensic science university students who chose their field
of study based on their television viewership habits, students who had withstood over two
semesters of university training were asked to evaluate the practically, ethics and
educational value of forensic-related programs. Overall, these students were dissatisfied
with practicality and ethics involved in these shows, but did admit that within the
misrepresentation of the field, there are some aspects that can be seen as educational. The
students learned that the shows that made them passionate were not an accurate
representation of their careers-to-be. (Weaver, Salamonson, Koch, and Porter, 2012, p.
388). Due to the misconceptions of the job duties and requirements, many of the highschool graduates that choose forensic science degrees are often ill-equipped to tackle the
level of scientific rigor required in the higher-quality programs (Jackson, 2009, p. 2).
For these reasons, retention rates in forensic chemistry programs are lower than those of
general chemistry programs (Jackson, 2009, p. 6). The students who learn through
schooling what forensic science is really about and realize that it is not for them, have
now lost this time, tuition, and oftentimes a chance at a high grade point average for their
college careers (Jackson, 2009, p. 6-7).
Although up-and-coming forensic science professionals face new challenges,
current professionals can offer some words of advice. Andrea Travis considers herself
lucky to have entered the force when it was easier to pick a preferred location. She says
she never would have wanted to leave Louisiana, but encourages those who are seeking
jobs out of college to be more flexible. She advises, be willing to move. Be willing to go

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wherever jobs are available (Travis, 2015). Gene Rauch adds to Travis
recommendations and highly encourages those interested in forensic science to pursue a
Bachelors of Science and find a mentor through school, or other connections, to help
become best qualified and achieve employment. Rauch also gives words of
encouragement, saying that it may be a rough road to employment, but it is a fun,
interesting job that never gets boring (Rauch, 2015).
In order to curb negative media influences on the forensic science field, a
suggestion has been made by one high school biology teacher. Laura Palmer has been
teaching high school biology for years and has watched her students walk into the room
with false knowledge about forensic science, which she believes is acquired through
watching television shows. The students lack interest in learning the truth. Palmer wrote a
lesson plan whose model, she believes, could break The CSI Effect in high schools
across the United States. The resourceful teacher created a marriage between a number
one selling adolescent book series, Harry Potter, and forensic science. Palmer was able to
reach a young, impressionable audience in a way they are used to being spoken to:
through media. The lesson plan used a hypothetical crime scenario for which the students
had to act as forensic scientists and find the Harry Potter killer. The students learned the
difference between fantastic technologies and real forensic tools as well how long tests
take to yield results. The hands-on approach to learning also allows the teacher room to
debunk common misconceptions specifically pertaining to forensic biology using
questions such as, Does finding a persons DNA at a crime scene always mean that he or
she is guilt of a crime? (Palmer, 2010, p. 243). Through this novel learning experience
teachers are able to engage young students using familiar characters at an age old enough

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to understand basic science, but still young enough manage future professions and
evidentiary expectations (Palmer, 2010, p. 241- 244).
All the hype and interest in forensic science is not limited to the United States.
Schools in The United Kingdom are experiencing similar increases in university
enrollment and opportunity for forensic science university programs, despite a different
higher education structure than America From 2002-2008 an average of 20 new forensic
science programs were added per year; this compares to the 1.3 per year average program
growth from between 1977 to 2002 (Jackson, 2009, p. 3). Similarly, studies on university
students in Canada and Australia showed that there was indeed, in both countries, an
amplified set of expectations for forensic evidence by those who viewed more forensicrelated media. However, these same students did acknowledge that there was a difference
between fictional television and real scenarios and believe that it is possible to be
unconsciously influenced by these shows (Holmgren and Fordham, 2011, p. 63-71)
As the world becomes a smaller place through growing technologies, media
slowly becomes a shaper of both sub-cultures and world culture. The power of media is
ever-growing. It is integrating itself into every part of life, including professional
decisions and pressures (Shelton, 2008). As no part of the world can exist untouched by
technology, it is no wonder that the criminal justice definition of The CSI Effect is
incomplete. The forensic professionals CSI Effect is a logical extension of the
sensationalized spotlight placed on scientists in the courtroom, the lab and even in the
field. The heightened awareness of the forensic science , which continues to mold the
profession, has its pros and cons for current and aspiring forensic scientists alike.

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Annotated Bibliography:
1. Accreditation of Entities Providing Forensic Science Services. (2013,
December 1). Retrieved March 4, 2015, from http://www.ascld.org/wpcontent/uploads/2014/02/CFSO-Accreditation-Paper-December-2013.pdf
a. The American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors (ASCLD) represents
the Consortium of Forensic science organizations, which is comprised of
nine different forensic entities. This document starts by defining
Accreditation as a formal process by which an impartial organization
(accrediting body) reviews a providers policies and procedures to ensure
the entity is conducting its operations in a manner consistent with national
or international standards. The document clarifies by saying that
accreditation is a stamp of approval that applies to agencies, not
individuals. It goes on to list and describe the history and transformation
of forensic accreditation bodies. The paper names everything from the
National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME) to Forensic Quality
Services (FQS). The document updates the reader on the current status of
accreditation of forensic science service provides and wraps up by
highlighting ASCLD/LAB as the largest provider of accreditation services
to the forensic community, testing for compliance with ISO/IEC 17025
standards, and covering 194 state laboratories, 1325 local agency
laboratories, 31 federal laboratories, 19 international (outside the United
States) laboratories and 26 private laboratories.
2. Bowen, R., & Schneider, J. (2007, October). Forensic Databases: Paint, Shoe

Sokolic 21
Prints, and
Beyond Retrieved March 4, 2015, from
http://www.nij.gov/journals/258/pages/forensic-databases.aspx
a. Bowen, the forensic program coordinator for the Forensic Science
Initiative at West Virginia University, and Schneider, a graduate student in
public administration, represent the National Institute if Justice by
explaining the existence and usage of forensic databases. The authors
explain the possibility of testing and storing information about everything
from prescription drugs to pen ink to car paint. The database breakdown
not only names the databases by both full name and acronym, but it also
spells out the limitations of such systems. For example, the Integrated
Ballistic Identification System (IBIS) stores bullet and cartridge casing
information on class characteristics. However, because of the nature of a
gun manufacturing, it would be impossible to identify a specific weapon
used in a crime without having possession of the gun. Each individual gun
has a pattern of striations and rifling that set it apart from any other
weapon known as individual characteristics. These markings are
transferred to a bullet when fired, but because of their unique nature, a gun
must be test fired so that the bullets can be prepared. Although not all
forensic crime labs across the country use or have access to every database
listed (for example Jefferson Parish Sheriffs Offices discontinuation of
paint sample testing) it is still a great reference point to better understand
what technologies are actually in existence versus which databases are

Sokolic 22
strictly fabled. It also helps create a frame of reference for what may be
expected by lawyers, not just jurors, of forensic technicians when faced
with testifying. It should also be noted that the National Institute if Justice
and U.S. government does not guarantee the accuracy of any of the
information that may be stored in these databases, which leaves even more
room for error in evidentiary processing.
3. Cole, S., & Dioso-Villa, R. (2011). Should Judges Worry About the CSI Effect?
Court Review: The Journal of the American Judges Association, 47(1-2), 20-31.
Retrieved March 4, 2015, from
http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1350&context=ajacour
treview
a. The authors, representing the University of Nebraska Lincoln,
University of California and Griffith University begin by stating common
civisms of juries and how they are seemingly heavily influenced by the
media, and therefore, potentially compromising the soundness of the
justice system. Several tables are presented to establish the popularity of
the CSI Franchise and its link to perceived weight of forensic evidence
and prestige of forensic professionals. The authors also track, through
visual representations, the changes in trial outcomes, in relation to CSI
airtimes.
Cole and Dioso-Villa explore the different effects that seem to go
hand-in-hand with perpetuating The CSI Effect. Each effect concludes a
change in behavior by the person for whom the effect is named, which

Sokolic 23
then, intern, affects another member of the criminal justice system. These
effects include: strong prosecutors effect, weak prosecutors effect,
defendants effect, producers effect, educators effect, police chiefs
effect, victims effect, and most relevant, tech effect. The tech effect refers
to the increasingly high standards to which forensic professionals are held
as the expectations for conclusive evidence develops alongside
technological advances. The authors acknowledge the limitations of a
crime lab and forensic science, in general. However, they also suggest that
increased expectations for forensic evidence, in small amounts, are
justified and should be expected, regardless of the media influence, as
technologies have actually advanced.
With a multitude of primary and secondary sources, the authors
research concludes that one cannot solely blame the media for the
misconceptions and unrealistic expectations of the new justice system.
Instead, a larger responsibility is placed upon all involved in the
community and the artful expressions contemporary culture to avoid the
overuse of science.
4. Dysart, K. (2012, May 28). Managing the CSI Effect in Jurors. Retrieved March
3, 2015, from
http://apps.americanbar.org/litigation/committees/trialevidence/articles/winterspri
ng2012-0512-csi-effect-jurors.html
a.

Dysart, representing The American Bar Association, explains The

CSI Effect and discusses the influence this phenomenon has on the more

Sokolic 24
than 67 million weekly CSI viewers from an interactive educational
exhibit opened in Times Square to an increase in forensic science
degrees. The author then embraces a case study conducted by Donald
Sheltons tech effect alternative to the CSI Effect in that the
misconceptions about forensic science are not limited to sensational
information given the CSI franchise. Dysart then sets out to find out
whether technology-based forensic evidence is always demanded by jurors
and how professionals manage this pressure.
Dysart claims that The CSI Effect has now changed the meaning of
burden of proof from beyond a reasonable doubt to beyond any
doubt. She attributes this change in perception to juries expectations
that, definite forensic evidence is accessible under every circumstance.
Dysart quotes the vice president of the National District Attorney
Association in saying, Jurors now expect us to have a DNA test for just
about every case. They expect us to have the most advanced technology
possible. Yet, Dysart notes that this is not always possible. Lack of
funding, manpower and time along with the possibility of an absence of
fictional technology or evidence to test, together, do not always allow for
such expectations to be met. The author then gives the example of the
2011 Casey Anthony case to illustrate the difficulties of not just any trial,
but one in which media heavily covered. Dysart ultimately suggests that
more precautions are taken in Jury selection to weed out as much bias as

Sokolic 25
possible such as questionnaires and the manner in which statements and
evidence are presented in a given trial.
5. Fienberg, S. (2007). Statistics and Forensic Science. The Annals of Applied
Statistics, 1(2), 285-286. Retrieved from JSTOR.
a. Fienberg representing Carnegie Mellon University and the Institute of
Mathematical Statistics, defines forensic science as the application of a broad
spectrum of scientific tools to answer questions of interest to the legal system.
The author attributes the misconception that forensic laboratories use technologies
that produce results, and therefore justice, in under an hour to the consumption of
popular television shows like CSI and CSI spinoffs, magazines and some
scientific literature. Though DNA has helped overturn many past convictions, and
is now considered a gold standard, other methods of forensic evidentiary
analysis have been and continue to be questioned. This is perhaps due to the
qualitative nature of many techniques used in the laboratory. The author gives and
example of the composition of bullet fragments found in 1963 in the same
location where President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. This topic is an issue
widely covered by the media, not simply because of the high profile victim, but
also because there was a box of bullets recovered from the same batch that the
convicted shooter Lee Harvey Oswald purchased and used. This sparked
immediate public controversy and led to a media uproar, as many people saw this
as suspicious that a comparison sample was desired for conviction and then
found. Fienberg encourages individuals to make educated and responsible
judgments. He asks that the public refrain from following a media frenzy.

Sokolic 26
6. Forensic Science Technicians. (2014, January 8). Retrieved March 2, 2015, from
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/forensic-sciencetechnicians.htm#tab-1
a. Bureau of Labor Statistics represents The United States Department of
Labor in acknowledging a substantial increase in job competition for
forensic technicians over the last decade. The rational behind a further
projected the increase is due to rising interest in the forensic science field,
perpetuated by popular media. Although a single bachelors degree is a
standard prerequisite, though not required in every situation, a bachelors
degree in natural science along side a masters degree in forensic science
is highly recommended. Overall, forensic science job growth is expected
to be about 6% in a ten-year time span, which is considered minimal in
comparison to the 11% average growth projected for most job markets. It
is also noted that 9 in 10 forensic technicians work directly for their state
or local governments. Only12,900 forensic science technician positions
were available nationally as of 2012. This puts those trained in forensic
science, especially those straight out of college with minimal experience at
a huge disadvantage. Additionally, as technology advances, stricter
policies may arise and on the job training can become lengthier and more
complex. Unfortunately, as interest increases in the forensic science field
and more universities are educating forensic science professionals, the job
market continues to slow, leaving more graduates with less employment
options. It also means that the highly educated professionals will have

Sokolic 27
spent more time and money on schooling, for the same long hours in and
out of the forensics laboratory for a salary that was once obtainable with
just a bachelors degree or even a high school diploma in some cases.
7. Harriss, C. (2011). The Evidence Doesn't Lie: Genre Literacy and the CSI Effect.
Journal Of Popular Film & Television, 39(1), 2-11.
doi:10.1080/01956051.2010.489929
a.

Harriss uses photographs, visual representations and screenplay

segments of commonly televised forensic evidence to suggest that genre
literacy is the key to offsetting The CSI Effect. He believes that the
medias effects on individuals can be involuntary as well as thoughtfully
crafted and is not limited to an unconscious instillation of bias. Harriss
introduces CSI as one of the most popular television programs since 2000
and breaks down the basic outline of a typical episode into seven parts:
commission of the crime, Discovery of the crime, Beginning of the
investigation, Phases of the investigation, Elucidation of the case and
identification of the perpetrator, Consequences of the identification, and
Resolution. The author then identifies that all of these puzzle pieces of the
larger episode, and even series, are connected by the theme that science is
truth while using characterizing mechanisms he called character
Propping to disguise the structure.
In order to trace the roots of crime dramas back to the start, the
authors speaks of Dragnet, an old-time radio show turned back and white
television show in the 1950s. He then compares community building

Sokolic 28
through violence and force, which he defines as the theme of Dragnet, to
CSIs wield of its power via a threat of knowledge and access.
Ultimately, the author questions the responsibility of television
producers, prosecutors, and jurors alike to differentiate fantasy from
reality. He claims that people in the television industry will often absolve
themselves of the duty to caution the public that crime dramas are simply
entertainment. While prosecutors may, ironically, blame television for
their failures to make the same distinctions. As the blame is debated,
scholars continue to validate the publics willingness to believe television
scenarios, leaving jurors to demand more from not just the prosecution,
but from forensic professionals. He reminds the readers that ultimately,
making informed decisions, not verdicts, is what matters.
8. Holmgren, J. A., & Fordham, J. (2011). The CSI Effect and the Canadian and the
Australian Jury. Journal Of Forensic Sciences (Wiley-Blackwell), 56S63-S71.
doi:10.1111/j.1556-4029.2010.01621.x
a. This international study, published in the Journal of Forensic Science,
examines the growing field alongside the growing pressures placed in both
forensic and criminal justice professionals to produce DNA evidence
before a jury will offer a conviction. The authors and researchers
demonstrate that crime dramas have sculpted this juror model and deem
this The CSI Effect. They then hypothesize that The CSI Effect is not
limited to America, but that the influence spans juries and publics across
the globe. The Canadian researchers conducted a survey of 605 Canadian

Sokolic 29
College students who are eligible to serve jury duty. The Australian
researchers studied and interviewed actual jurors after their jury
experience. The Canadians showed a clear distention in the weight placed
on forensic evidence between CSI viewership and those who do not watch.
The Australians were asked open-ended questions and scenarios to which
some were flustered by lack of a definitive, unquestionable answer to a
case scenario by an expert. The jury, as a whole, was dissatisfied with
making a final decision based on imperfect evidence and had trouble
seeing the best outcome. The results of the two studies conclude that both
Canadians and Australians are, in fact, statistically influenced by their
viewing habits in terms of their expectations for forensic evidence within a
trial. However, both segments admit to understanding that there is a line
between fictional television and real trials and that there is a possibility of
both unconscious and conscious bias by crime drama viewers. Though
authors and researchers agree that they have tangible evidence to support
The CSI Effect, they do not claim to have full understanding of the
phenomenon.
9. Jackson, G. P. (2009). The Status of Forensic Science Degree Programs in the
United States. Forensic Science Policy & Management, 1(1), 2-9.
doi:10.1080/19409040802586936
a. Glen Paul Jackson represents The University of Ohio in this 1977- 2007
research assessment of The CSI Effect on forensic university programs.
The author focuses specifically on forensic chemistry, forensic science,

Sokolic 30
and criminology bachelors and masters programs in this evaluation and
compares them to general chemistry degrees. Jackson conducts research
on the changing academic world of forensic science. Through extensive
statistics and visuals, the author studies the rise or enrollment rates and
number of new programs nationally and internationally. Jackson uses indepth graphs to illustrate the heaps of numbers he has gained through his
research. The research seems to suggest a large increase in enrollment and
number of programs offered in years following premiers of popular crime
dramas. He notes that retention rates are much lower for forensic-related
degrees in relation to general chemistry degrees, with many student
earning lower grades dropping the program within the first year. However,
Jackson also notes that grade point averages and graduation rates of
students who stick with the program are comparable to general chemistry
students. Jackson briefly discusses new forensic accreditation and
examination opportunities for universities and wraps up by concluding
that even though schools who use new accreditation and standardized
testing methods seem to operating very successfully it will take years to
fully understand and study these models.
10. Maeder, E. M., & Corbett, R. (2015). Beyond Frequency: Perceived Realism and
the CSI Effect. Canadian Journal Of Criminology & Criminal Justice, 57(1), 83114. doi:10.3138/cjccj.2013.E44
a.

This Canadian essay from Carleton University defines perceived

realism as the degree to which television programs are viewed as

Sokolic 31
accurate and realistic depictions of the field that they portray. The authors
then test the theory that there is no direct correlation between crime drama
viewership, as previously outlined by The CSI Effect. They instead
hypothesize that it is those who perceive these television shows as an
accurate depiction of the forensic science that truly influence the
expectations for more forensic evidence and discredit other forms of
evidence. The authors support their hypothesis through surveys and mock
juries and conclude that both frequency of viewing and perceived realism
affect the ways in which potential jurors process evidentiary information.

11. Mancini, D. E. (2013). The "CSI Effect" in an Actual Juror Sample: Why Crime
Show Genre May Matter. North American Journal Of Psychology, 15(3), 543-564
a.

Mancini from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania conducted research

on television viewership of crime-related sub-genres. He studied a group
of 79 participating mock jurors in a virtual murder trial. His findings
validated his hypothesis that there is a heavier acquittal rate among
fictional crime show viewers than those who watch other crime sub-genres
or do not watch crime shows at all. On the other hand, Mancini discovered
that heavy fiction viewers did not show evidentiary bias between the
prosecution and defense or list forensic evidence as a reason for acquittal
more frequently than other participants. Mancini suggested hat his
experiments call for a larger investigation into sub-genre viewership and
The CSI Effect.

Sokolic 32
12. Palmer, L. K. (2010). Using Harry Potter to Introduce Students to DNA
Fingerprinting & Forensic Science. American Biology Teacher (National
Association Of Biology Teachers), 72(4), 241-244. doi:10.1525/abt.2010.72.4.8
a. Palmer, representing the National Association of Biology Teachers,
informs readers of how she was about to break through The CSI Effect by
captivating a classroom with another piece of pop culture, the Harry Potter
Series. This Biology teacher recognizes the power of media to hook
individuals, especially kids and teens. Instead of fighting against the media
by keeping it out of her forensic biology lecture, she embraces the drama
and defuses misconceptions using a scenario of her own. In using a
notoriously fictional Harry Potter characters to create an entirely fictional
scenario, which doesnt even exist within the Harry Potter series, Palmer
draws a clear distinction between media drama and real forensic tools,
while still engaging her audience with the familiar. This tactic also gives
her the creative freedom to further educate students by making
exemplifying exceptions to basic rules of forensic biology. This way she
can debunk common misconceptions about special DNA and
fingerprinting cases such as, What if one of the suspects is an identical
twin? or Does finding a persons DNA (or fingerprints) at the crime
scene always mean that he or she is guilty of a crime? or even Are there
situations where DNA fingerprinting would not work? Students are now
faced with non-obvious questions to which they are responsible for
answering. In strategically thinking and bearing the burden of proof, if

Sokolic 33
only momentarily, transforms super computers and unlimited time become
a fairytale. Perhaps this model can be expanded past the general education
classroom and into the same media that is currently warping the forensics
profession through the minds of the general public.
13. Rauch, G. (2015, February). Professional Forensic Insights [Personal interview].
a. Gene Rauch, Senior Firearms Examiner at Jefferson Parish Sheriffs Office
crime laboratory explains everything from a typical workday to how she
got her job. An eight-grade experience with a job fair inspired Rauch to
peruse a career in forensic science. Rauch has a bachelors of science in
forensic chemistry from the University of Mississippi and has worked in
the Jefferson Parish Sheriffs Office crime laboratory for eight years. She
acquired her job through personal connections alongside her
qualifications. While working full-time, Rauch attended the local police
academy and acquired an online masters degree of science in
pharmacology. She believes that most people think her job is glamorous
when in reality, it is a lot of laboratory work. Though she does not watch
fictional crime dramas herself, Rauch has concerns about their effects on
others. Rauch wrote a research paper on The CSI Effect for her masters
and is very knowledgeable on the subject. Her job is extremely science
oriented and she believes that books and television shows have both
increased interest in the field and misconceptions of a mostly field job
instead of a laboratory job. She feels as though she now has to explain to
juries, students and acquaintances that not everything on television is real

Sokolic 34
and that these sensationalized programs show techniques that her lab may
not have the capability or funding to do. She also notes that paperwork,
reports and analyses take time. Since starting her career, standards have
changed and the lab has recently introduced a new quality control
standard, with American Society of Crime Laboratory Director (ASCLD)
accreditation.
14. Saviano, J., Allgood, A., & Malone, Z. (2010). Using Multiple Void Patterns at
Crime Scenes to Estimate Area of Origin in Bloodstain Cases. Journal of the
Association for Crime Scene Reconstruction, 16(3), 19-26. Retrieved March 6,
2015, from http://www.crime-sceneinvestigator.net/UsingMultipleVoidPatternsEstimateAreaOfOrigin.pdf
a. Jeff Saviano, CFC, April Allgood, MS, and Zerah Malone, MS represent
The Assocication for Crime Scene Reconstruction in this article about
void blood spatter patterns. The purpose of including this article is as a
reference piece to prove that not everything seen in the media is true.
What is missing in a crime scene can often times be just as important as
what is still there. These three professionals indicate how a number of
void bloodstain patterns can be used to determine movement of an object
from its position at the time of a bloody crime and help figure out the
origin of the crime that produced the stains surrounding the void. The
authors deem this method of analysis the Void Pattern Shadow
Matching method. These speedy and approximate methods of
determining origin can later be validated using mathematics. After

Sokolic 35
extensive testing, the results prove that the VPSM is just as accurate (if
not slightly more so) as the currently used methods of stringing
mathematical calculation, and computer-aided analysis.
15. Shelton, D. (2008, March 17). The 'CSI Effect': Does It Really Exist? Retrieved
March 1, 2015, from http://www.nij.gov/journals/259/pages/csi-effect.aspx
a. This government source exhibits an overview of The CSI Effect. The
author Shelton defines The CSI Effect as it is commonly branded. He
then challenges this explanation through his account of how an Ann
Arbor, Michigan survey was administered to a random sample of 1,027
American jurors. The sample was given information about different
hypothetical cases. Each case represented a certain type of criminal act or
charge. There were seven types of crimes represented: criminal cases,
Murder or attempted murder, Physical assault, Rape or other criminal
sexual conduct, Breaking and entering, Theft, and crimes involving a gun.
The participants were then asked what types of evidence the prospective
jurors expected to see. After listing expected evidence, they were
presented with pieces of evidence pertaining to the crime, but not
necessarily pertaining to their evidentiary expectations. These categories
included: victim eyewitness testimony, third party eyewitness testimony,
circumstantial evidence, DNA evidence, Fingerprint evidence, Ballistics
or other firearms laboratory evidence and other scientifically verifiable
evidence. The jurors were asked to scale their opinion of the suspects
level of guilt based on specific types of evidence introduced into the case.

Sokolic 36
The survey results indicated that 46 percent expected to see some kind of
scientific evidence in every criminal case, 22 percent expected to see DNA
evidence in every criminal case, 36 percent expected to see fingerprint
evidence in every criminal case and 32 percent expected to see ballistic or
other firearms laboratory evidence in every criminal case. Aside from the
percentages, it was found that CSI and Law and Order are the two most
viewed crime television shows. This segment of the total sample expected
more of all types of evidence than other participants. The analysis
concludes that The CSI Effect may exist, but that CSI, as a television
show, is not the sole factor in influencing the general public or jurors. The
author then suggests a renaming of the phenomenon as the "tech effect.
16. Stevens, K. (n.d.). The Changing Role of Forensic Science. Retrieved March 6,
2015, from http://www.grundyco.org/departments/coroner/item/the-changingrole-of-forensic-science
a. Colonel Stevens of Grundy County Illinois and Illinois State Police
Division of Forensic Science speaks about the changing field of forensic
science and how it is affected by the parallel changes to the criminal
justice system. The Colonel states a link between popular television shows
and the misleading portrayal of the forensic science profession. Due to the
increase in awareness of forensic science and technological advances,
Stevens claims that it is now not uncommon for forensic work can to
precede an arrest. It is not no longer satisfactory to use old managerial
techniques in the laboratory, as evidence like DNA is now expected by the

Sokolic 37
public to be collected, tested and analyzed rapidly. Such is not always
possible, but evidence must be managed and prioritized based on what
may help with over a jury. There is also increased precaution taken to
avoid cross contamination, as not to disturb what may now be considered
one of the most important pieces of evidence in a given investigation. She
states that there is a misconception that poor managerial practices cause
slow evidentiary analysis, when, in fact, it is quite the opposite. The lab
gets overloaded and backed up because of the amount of evidence there is
to test. It is not that forensic technicians are not working, it is that they are
working too hard.
Colonel Stevens also notes that there has been a large change in
education for upcoming forensic professionals. She recognizes that many
colleges have added new forensic science programs and that there has
been an increase in enrollment in existing programs. She also, however,
tells of the negatives to these programs in that many of them are purely
based in theory and do not explore operational skills in the laboratory. She
believed that even those who acquire degrees in forensic science still
require much on the job training.
17. Travis, A. (2015, February). Professional Forensic Insights [Personal interview].
a. Andrea Travis, Quality Assurance Manager and former Drug Analyst for
Jefferson Parish Sheriffs Office crime laboratory has worked in the
forensic science field for thirteen years. Her job is to oversee several parts
of the laboratory to make sure that they meet the current quality guidelines

Sokolic 38
according to the FQS, ANAB and ISO 17025 accreditation standards.
Many of these guidelines are newer to the laboratory and reflect a change
in the industry. Travis has a Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology
from LSU New Orleans. It was there that she found her passion for
forensic science through an entomology class. The availability of
university programs in forensic science were very limited, so she attended
graduate school to University of Alabama, the University with the closest
desired program, and earned a masters of science in forensic science.
During her time in graduate school Travis interned for the JPSO crime lab
and later got hired. She considers herself fortunate to have gotten her
position when she did, because she realizes that jobs in forensic science
are now in such high demand, due to the increase in academic programs
and forensic awareness, that if she were to apply for her job today, she
may be turned down and may have to leave her home state to find gainful
employment.
Although Travis admits that her job can be fun and exciting, she
believes that others view her position as glamorous and dont realize the
amount of monotonous daily work. There are a lot of rules and details that
must be paid attention. She doesnt case suspects and interrogate people
the way people see on television.
18.

Weaver, R., Salamonson, Y., Koch, J., & Porter, G. (2012). The CSI effect at

Sokolic 39
university: forensic science students television viewing and perceptions
of ethical issues. Australian Journal Of Forensic Sciences, 44(4), 381-391.
doi:10.1080/00450618.2012.691547
a.

A group of Australian researchers from different Universities and

Research groups combined their expertise to study the effects of forensic
television programs on the University students pursuing degrees in the
forensic science field. Many of the students already regularly consumed
forensic-related media and it is inferred that some may have chosen their
college majors partly because of their interest in said media. After
semesters of training in the field, the students were shown episodes of
crime dramas and asked to evaluate accuracy, ethics, professionalism and
role models in these programs. The majority of students were displeased
with the practicality of these scenarios as well as the ethical decisions
made by the characters, though they agree that the shows are not
completely devoid of educational value.