The CSI effect is any of several ways in which the exaggerated
portrayal of forensic science on crime shows such as CSI: Crime Scene
Investigation influences its public perception. The term most often
refers to the belief that jurors have come to demand more forensic
evidence in criminal trials, thereby raising the standard of proof for
prosecutors. Although this belief is widely held among American legal
professionals, several studies have shown that crime shows are unlikely
to cause such an effect. There are several other manifestations of the
CSI effect. Greater public awareness of forensic science has increased
the demand for forensic evidence in police investigations, which in
turn has significantly increased workloads for crime laboratories. The
number and popularity of forensic science degree programs at the
university level have greatly increased worldwide, though some new
programs have been criticized for inadequately preparing their students
for real forensic work. It is possible that forensic science shows
teach criminals how to conceal evidence of their crimes, thereby making
it more difficult for investigators to solve cases.
Read the rest of this article:
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CSI_effect>
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1642:
The Société Notre-Dame de Montréal founded a permanent mission known as
Ville-Marie, which eventually grew into the city of Montreal
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montreal>
1902:
The Antikythera mechanism, the oldest known surviving geared mechanism,
was discovered among artifacts retrieved from a shipwreck off the Greek
island of Antikythera.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antikythera_mechanism>
1954:
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the landmark case Brown v. Board of
Education, outlawing racial segregation in public schools because
"separate educational facilities are inherently unequal".
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_v._Board_of_Education>
1980:
On the eve of the Peruvian general election, the Maoist guerrilla group
Shining Path attacked a polling location in the town of Chuschi,
Ayacucho, starting the internal conflict in Peru.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/internal_conflict_in_Peru>
2009:
Dalia Grybauskaitė was elected the first female President of
Lithuania, receiving 68.18 percent of the vote.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalia_Grybauskait%C4%97>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
inquinate (v):
To sully or pollute
<http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/inquinate>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
There are cloudy moments when one asks himself if men do not deserve
all the disasters into which they rush! No — I recover myself — they do
not deserve them. But we, instead of saying "I wish" must say "I
will."
And what we will, we must will to build it, with order, with method,
beginning at the beginning, when once we have been as far as that
beginning. We must not only open our eyes, but our arms, our wings.
--Henri Barbusse
<http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Henri_Barbusse>
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