Does the Technology Portrayed in Television Crime Shows Have an Effect on Potential Jurors?

The CSI-Effect (Crime Scene Investigation Effect) proposes that jurors tend to acquit suspects when forensic evidence doesn’t exist (or when existing technology fails to reveal sufficient forensic evidence). This study surveyed 71 students in Computer and Information Systems-related degree programs. Specifically, the survey attempted to answer two questions: 1) Does the technology portrayed in CSI-type(i.e., forensically-oriented) television shows increase viewers’ knowledge of forensic evidence?, and 2) Does the technology portrayed in CSI-type television shows influence the way a juror will decide a case? The study found that, while an abundance of anecdotal evidence supports the CSI-Effect, statistically significant conclusions continue to elude researchers in this field.