How accurate is CSI and all those other crime shows?

Question

I know this may seem stupid, by how accurate are they? They always seem to show the good life of cops and such. They always show them driving in hummers and dressing all nice and stuff.

How is life really like working in law enforcement? To kill or shoot someone? To see collegues shot and killed?

Answer 1

It's utter fiction. There's a show on A&E called "The First 48" that is a much more accurate protrayal of police work (and it should be, since it's filmed documentary style).

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

Not even close.

I don't work crime scene. I do property crime investigations. We have a lot of time to work with them.

In the 18 years that I've been working I have yet to shoot someone. And at this rate I probably won't be.

I have been around many police officer deaths and been around to help for the search of the bad guy. It's not a good feeling to see one of your own go down.

As for dressing nice. Well I have to wear a collared shirt to work. But I don't wear Armani or Gucci. I pretty much wear what I can find at Khols or Penney's.

I don't drive a Hummer or other exotic car. I was issued a 2001 Ford Taurus. Right now that's as good as it gets.

Lastly, if the real life police were anything like TV, the departments would have to have a enormous budget just to outfit everyone. It's just TV.

Answer 4

Yeah Yeah and they are always young and good looking and just a couple of years outta' college and they dress like young executives and their hair is perfect and they drive expensive cars(on the job) and they are super smart and they hold positions that people would have to work for years to attain. They're politically correct, and last but not least they always solve the crime even though they look like they've never spent a day in uniform(they just went straight to the top from the get go)but ofcourse it helps when you only have one case to work on at a time. Funny thing is I hear people say Oh I never miss that show.

Answer 5

It is a drama, they take parts of reality and add fiction.
Reality = People die at the hand of others
Reality = evidence is left behind.
Reality = someone gathers and analizes the evidence
Fiction = it doesn't always wrap up in a nice neat package.
Fiction = They drive nice vehicles and where pretty suits because it is a drama

I enjoy these shows as much as the next person -, but for entertainment value only - it is a fictional environment, just like ER, Grey's Anatomy or NCIS.

Answer 6

lab people don't go into the field, there are feild techs who drive vans with equipment that does the actual gathering of evidence, These techs bring the evidence back to the lab, and then the lab takes over.

crime labs don't go arrest and question people, they would turn thier evidence over to police investigators that do the work.

In some of the most largest and major cities, 10 or so, they may have a major crime lab, but most have very small labs with only a few lab people.

And most cities have no crime labs at all, and no evidence techs, In 90 percent of the US, the police officer at the scene, and with help of the dectitives, they are the ones who gather the evidence and seal it and mail it to the state crime lab.

It can take months just to get back if a substance is really drugs, ( beyond a onsite sample test)

So while I guess there are a few places like you see on TV most are just street cops in marked police cars, going to the scene putting things in baggies.

Answer 7

Very innacurate. Most crimes don't get solved. 33% of murders go unsolved. Last year my home was robbed. Two months later a business owner called me saying he had received a check with my name on it. He had the name and adress of the person who had given him the check. And I mean he was at their house when they gave him the check. I called the detective the case had been assigned to. Haven't heard back yet and its been 8 months!

Answer 8

The cases take months to solve not days and hours, if they are solved at all. And on the shows they have cases that come once in a lifetime, being investigated on a weekly basis.

Answer 9

They are giving real jurors and the public the wrong impression of how forensic science really is. Much of the technology that is used on tv does not yet exist.

Answer 10

Your right, it is a stupid question. Don't EVER ask anyone what its like to shoot or kill someone! I would would tell you what its like to have someone die in your arms, but your sick and need help. Maybe my shrink can work you in right after me!