Is TV Making Criminals Smarter?
We’ve all watched shows like CSI in which we witness the crime, investigation, and evidence which leads to the conviction of the criminal, all within the hour. While not entirely realistic, investigators are beginning to wonder if watching these types of crime scene investigation shows are actually making criminals smarter.
Pittsburgh police Sgt. Paul McComb, the head of the department’s crime unit, believes TV is changing the way that criminals behave because they’ve become aware of what evidence can be connected to them through criminal investigation TV shows. “These suspects are very cognizant about what they’re doing and what evidence they’re leaving behind,” McComb says. “Most of them are already very cunning, but CSI and other shows show them how to be better.”
With rapists reportedly wearing gloves and having their victims shower to remove DNA evidence, the FBI’s calculations show that the number of rape cases being solved by the police have gone down in the last ten years. While 51.3% of rapes were solved a decade ago nationwide, in 2005 the number had decreased to 41.3%. The numbers support Sgt. McComb’s belief that TV is making criminals smarter. “When the secrets get out about how we solve crimes, the criminals change their habits.”
If criminals are becoming smarter, then law enforcement need to be as well. With over 40,000 projected job openings and faster than average growth projected for this industry over the next decade, charting a career as a police detective is an excellent choice. Be part of the solution and learn more about a criminal justice career today!
[...] like CSI are having an effect on the general public. Criminals are becoming smarter, and so are juries, according to the “CSI effect.” But because we’re accustomed [...]