Taking a Bite Out of Crime with Radio Frequency Identification
by Evidence tracking in many law enforcement agencies is stuck in the “paper and pencil” world, prone to errors that can produce miscarriages of justice. Now, with new demands for accuracy from juries that are accustomed to “perfect” crimes – and criminal investigations – on television, RFID (radio frequency identification) is seen as a solution to the needs of the justice system.
Introduction: The “CSI Effect”
The debate rages on about “old” versus “new” media, with many media commentators claiming that network television is itself dead. These critics are certainly right in one regard, as curiosity is indeed rising among the viewing public in “the dead.” This is evidenced by the fact that the most popular scripted series shows in American television this decade belong to what is commonly referred to as the “CSI (Crime Scene Investigation) franchise.” What began as one show in 2000 (CSI) has now expanded into three separate weekly series, all on the CBS Television Network: the original CSI, set in Las Vegas, CSI: Miami, and CSI: New York.
CSI and the field of criminal science has become a cultural and legal phenomenon in the United States. The CSI franchise itself has morphed into video games, comic books, serialized novels, and even kids’ toys, including a juvenile DNA Lab and forensics kit. There has also been increased interest in forensic science careers and education, prompting new training programs at both the college and even high school levels focused on criminal investigations. Today, there is even a recognized phenomenon in legal and law enforcement circles commonly referred to as the “CSI Effect.”
With the popularity of not just the CSI shows, but other crime-related television series, including Crossing Jordan, Silent Witness, and the NCIS and Law & Order franchises (which both now include three series each), there is growing awareness and sophistication amongst the American public about criminal investigations and forensic science.
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As a consequence, in real courtrooms, juries are now expecting to see real, forensic evidence – not just testimony and circumstantial evidence – to prove guilt in serious criminal cases. This means the bar has been effectively raised to prove a defendant’s guilt – by television shows that show crimes where there are typically a relative abundance of blood, hair, and various body fluids, as well as bullet fragments and shell casings, left at every crime scene. Further, as we have seen a number of high profile cases reversed after having DNA evidence to prove a convicted person’s innocence, there is a growing sense that forensic evidence is truly the key factor underpinning today’s criminal justice system. However, the CSI effect is not without its critics in both academic and legal circles. This is due to what they perceive as the disconnect between the idealized world of television crime scene investigations and what occurs in the real world. And what happens in the real world is often far, far less organized than what is expected – and needed – in today’s world of CSI-enhanced world of criminal justice.
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