CSI: In real life vs. on TV
GARDEN CITY, Idaho (KBOI) — You have seen the shows on TV — like CSI and NCIS — crime shows that make arresting criminals look easy!
So, how does that compare to real life?
Well, on the surface, things look pretty similar. You've got evidence, fingerprints, and the tools necessary to solve the crime. But, don't be fooled! It's not all it's glammed up to be on the big screen.
[People] always ask... is it like TV? I'm like no. It's nothing like TV!Lisa Mitchell with Garden City's CSI unit says sometimes the misconceptions people get from watching TV can make it seem like local agencies are not doing enough, when in reality they're doing everything they can.
"We [want] to bring people to justice, to make sure the right person is charged and to make sure the wrong person isn't charged, to make sure the victim gets justice," said Mitchell.
The truth is, most of those fancy tricks you see on television aren't real. For example, there is no technology that allows you to zoom in on a blurry, pixelated photo and enhance it until it's clear as day.
The majority of evidence gathered at a local level is actually sent off to a lab somewhere else, like the Idaho State Police.
It could take more than a month before results come back — a far cry from an hour-long show!
Mitchell says one thing that is true from TV, however, is you never know how you're going to solve the crime.
"It could be something crazy you never thought of that is really important," said Mitchell. "At the time [it] seemed like it wasn't so significant, but [it] ends up being one of the most crucial pieces of evidence. You just never know."
On TV and in real life, that's the objective... find the mistake that leads to the criminal.
All it takes is one — one fingerprint, one bit of DNA, one piece of evidence left behind at the scene — and that's how they solve a crime!
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