Our contemporary society is characterized by the great development of different digital devices whose main aim is to make the life of people easier. The digital revolution influenced all spheres of our life, starting with entertainment and ending with different complicated calculations. These technologies changed the image of some traditional things greatly. It is impossible to meet an accountant who does not use a computer and a special program to calculate all spending. That is why it is possible to admit changes in all spheres of human activity. Forensics was also influenced by this revolution. A great number of different digital devices which are able to collect data better than ever and provide detailed analysis changed the work of specialists in this sphere greatly. There is even the new brunch of this science which is called computer forensic and combines elements of law and computer science (Computer Forensic, 2008). The everyday work of criminalists becomes more and more like an episode from a fantastic movie which is full of different devices, functions of which are unclear. This peculiarity of the work of forensic specialists has not gone unnoticed. Taking into account the rising popularity of this issue, filmmakers decided to create TV series called CSI in which peculiarities of the work of these specialists are shown. Unexpectedly, CSI became very popular. However, trying to make their film more entertaining, producers very often add some peculiarities and processes which are not real and not used in the work of criminalists. With this in mind, it is very interesting to analyze an episode to see which actions are realistic and which are not.
The movie under analysis is the episode Crime Wave (Devine & Gaviola, 2004) from the TV series Crime Scene Investigation: Miami. It tells us about the work of a team of criminalists which try to prevent crime which is going to be committed against the background of approaching tsunami. The beginning of the episode provides an introduction of the whole story. A body is found at the parking and the team should find all evidences and proof in order to prevent crime and find a criminal. Having made a lot of investigations during the film, this team managed to solve this problem and find all needed evidences. The movie is interesting with a great number of actions which are connected with forensics and that is why it is possible to anatomize them. From the beginning of the movie the team makes a crime scene investigation. This process is showed in details and it is possible to analyze its peculiarities. There is a great number of different moments in the movie which also show peculiarities of the work of this team. They operate in an ultramodern laboratory which gives answers to all questions which appear in the process of investigation. Equipment and tests they do seem to be the newest dawn in this sphere. With this in mind, it should be assumed that the movie shows the best side of the work of criminalists.
Having watched the video, it is possible to say that a great number of the teams actions seem to be very plausible. First of all, it deals with the crime scene investigation. Criminalists study it carefully, trying to find the slightest evidences. Detection of a bullet is an ordinary course in forensics. Criminalists try to investigate the place and find the smallest objects. Moreover, detailed examination of the car also seems to be very plausible. Usage of ultraviolet bulb helps criminalists to find tiniest remains of food, different liquids or hair. That is why discovery of a dogs hair on the seat is a running practice for all criminalists. There was a great number of different crimes in history of this science which were solved due to the evidence of that type. Analysis of the hair in order to understand its origin and compare the DNA of the example with the DNA of a suspect is a usual practice. In consequence of investigation of the hair which was found on the seat the team found out that it belonged to a dog. This discovery helped them to find one of the members of the gang. Their actions here seem quite logical and it is possible to suppose that a lot of criminalists all over the world execute the same procedures.
However, there are also some actions and acts which seem to be quite illogical or unlikely to happen. First of all, it should be admitted that all members of the team perform almost all actions. They investigate the crime zone looking for evidences. They also analyze collected evidences at the laboratory and even make autopsy. Moreover, they respond to the scene and neutralize a gang in the bank. With this in mind, it should be admitted that these scenes are added to the movie in order to make it more exciting. These actions have no relevance to reality. It should be admitted that in real life there is a clear division of responsibilities between different specialists. There are many scientists which analyze collected evidences at the laboratory. They devote most of the time to this work, being concentrated on it. That is why it is difficult to imagine these specialists taking part in arrest or travelling all over the city. The second act which seems to be absolutely improbable is an episode with the bank. It is difficult to imagine nowadays that two specialists would take part in neutralizing of a gang. Nowadays, it is made with the help of a special penetration team which is trained specially for such purposes. These two moments seem to be the most contradictory and unreal actions in the episode. That is why they draw a viewers attention.
Having analyzed the following movie, it is possible to make certain conclusions. First of all, it is possible to say that the episode is very interesting and it has a great number of different actions which reveal some peculiarities of the work of criminalists in modern world. However, there are also some rather contradictory facts and actions. It is impossible to imagine nowadays criminalists, which perform such a great variety of actions, starting with analysis of evidences ending with a neutralization of a gang. These actions added to the plot of the film can be taken as an attempt to make it more popular and show the work of criminalists from the better side. “Forensic investigation is increasingly playing an important role in the pursuit of justice. But the use of forensic investigation is not the straightforward endeavor that is portrayed in many television programs and other mass media sources” (Forensic Investigations, n.d., para. 3)
Reference List
Computer Forensic. (2008). Web.
Devine, E. (Writer). & Gaviola, C. (Director). (2004). Crime Wave. [Television series episode]. In J. Bruckheimer (Producer), CSI: Miami (Crime Scene Investigation: Miami). CBS Television Distribution.
Forensic Investigations. (n.d.). Web.