Do you think crime shows help criminals get away with crimes more often?

Question

Recently we had a debate in my criminology class about crime shows helping criminals to make sure that they didn't leave any evidence behind. Kinda like how you'll see on Law and Order SVU a lot: "The perp wore gloves, a condom, a mask... traces of spermicide were left behind, we haven't gotten back the forensics from the Vic yet." Etc etc. People were very 50/50 on it.

Do you think some of the details discussed in crime shows about forensics and evidence help criminals to get away with crimes more easily, or do you think the info about forensics/evidence is easily accessible anyway and the shows aren't really an issue?

Answer

The science on these shows is never complete and usually not entirely accurats.

Answer

The science on some shows are a little skewed. After my criminal investigations class I picked up on a lot of the flaws in evidence processing on these shows. Unless the person has take a criminology and criminal investigations class prior to these shows, I don't think it tells people how to get away with the crime.

Also most shows are dated 3-10 years from the year it airs, technology advancements and evidence gather procedures change and vary by department, I doubt someone would be able to get away with a crime committed in Cali after watching a crime committed in florida u know

Answer

Yes. It gives ideas and from those ideas planning, researching, and ultimately following through in any crime can be carted out. Hell, even some movies, such as untraceable has given me ideas on how to get rid of a body. So, I could imagine that these shows can and/or could give ideas and valid avenues in "how to get away with murder".

Answer

I think there are far more loopholes for perps to get away with it in our legal system versus learning from crime shows.

Answer

If a criminal is solely relying on a show like CSI or something to help him/her get away with a serious crime, then they're an idiot. There is so much more that goes into an investigation than what is often portrayed in these types of shows and if a criminal is trying solely upon CSI to help them get away with the perfect crime, they probably have another thing coming and they're more than likely to hang themselves. It could potentially give people ideas though. Of course.

Answer

if they dumb enough to do the crime, they prolly dumb enough to get caught tbh.  that's what my forensics teacher always said. she said after years of studying how to get away with anything, she would still probably forget something and get caught somehow

Answer

There was an Episode of CSI that had me believing that it was possible for humans to have green blood 🤦‍♀️

So I definitely don't think the shows are scientifically accurate, and should be taken with a grain of salt.

Answer

No. Tv shows aren't accurate and not factual. People probably try and end up thinking they're now masterminds and get caught.

Answer

These shows usually aren't very representative of evidence and evidentiary rules in court beyond the really common sense stuff.

Answer

Maybe. I mean how many people learned how to destroy evidence of a dead body in a trash can from Breaking Bad? Just saying...

Do you think crime shows help criminals get away with crimes more often?

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