CSI: Crime Scene Investigation was introduced to viewers in October 2000. Since that time, the franchise has added two releases in major metropolitan areas, now tackling crime scenarios in Las Vegas, Miami and New York City. Based on the most recent Nielsen ratings for prime time television programs, the CSI franchise drew approximately 35 million viewers during the 2010-2011 viewing season. The popularity of forensic science drama on television has led court officials to express views that there is a "CSI effect" that alters the jury pool and outcomes of criminal cases. The differences between television drama and real crime solving are many, and when jurors consider themselves pseudo-experts those lines can become blurred in the courtroom. Jurors have unrealistic ideas about processing evidence. “Such programs give the impression that forensic laboratories are staffed with highly trained personnel, stocked with a full complement of state-of-the-art tools, and with sufficient resources to close every case in a timely manner.” (Houck 85) Forensic laboratories face funding deficits, insufficient adequately trained staff, and the constant advancement of technology. University of Maryland forensic scientist Thomas Mauriello estimates that about 40 percent of the forensic science shown on CSI does not exist. Carol Henderson, director of the National Clearinghouse for Science, Technology and the Law at Stetson University College of Law, said in a publication from that institution that jurors “are sometimes disappointed if some of the new technologies they think exist are not used ”. (Houck 87) Investigators often have to explain to victims that it is not possible to collect a sample of... middle of paper... public opinion about the trustworthiness of the government. The studies were unable to clearly define whether the CSI effect had an actual influence on the outcome of the trials. However, surveys indicate that many prospective jurors believe they are more knowledgeable about criminology after watching the shows. CSI viewers may gain more knowledge about forensic science and investigative processes, but that knowledge does not impact the outcome of the criminal justice process. Works Cited Dioso-Villa, Simon A. Cole, and Rachel. "INVESTIGATION ON THE 'CSI EFFECT': MEDIA CRISIS AND LITIGATION IN CRIMINAL LAW." Stanford Law Review 61.6 (2009): 1335-1374. Houck, Max M. “CSI: Reality.” Scientific American July 2006: 85-89. United States Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation. Uniform crime reporting statistics. February 13 2012 .