| First came Sherlock Holmes, and the
reading public of Europe and the U.S. couldn't get enough. Then
Leopold and Loeb appeared in the early 1920s, and newspapers
couldn't keep up with demand. Then the high profile criminal
cases of the Menendez brothers, O.J. Simpson, and Scott
Peterson, and a television watching public rarely turned their
sets off. Most recently, CBS's CSI, CSI: Miami, and CSI: New
York have combined to create some of the most staggering
home-audience numbers in television history. Forensic science
is, in a word, hot. In forensic science, investigators use
advanced technology to help locate evidence and solve criminal
cases, and it has changed the way that individuals look at a
crime. It has also changed the way that juries look at evidence.
Inevitably, therefore, it has changed the way that criminals
consider committing their acts.
In addition to stirring the imagination of the world, the
current popularity of forensic science is stirring up criticism.
Detractors claim that--thanks to current television programming
and how-to case-books--more and more criminals now know how to
cover their tracks. On the other hand, proponents point to the
fact that on TV, at least, even the smartest of criminals will
make one mistake.
Whichever side of the aisle one finds him or herself on,
there is plenty of room for education and debate. Non-fiction
case studies provide fascinating glimpses into real-life crime
scenes. Novels featuring forensic science offer thrilling ways
to spend long afternoons. And of course, videos of forensic
science programming can provide a double punch of education and
entertainment. |
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