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Glamorizing the generally dirty job of evidence gathering, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation has revolutionized the crime drama, consistently ranking among the most viewed shows on television. While other programs have focused on police work and court functions, CSI is based on the science of crime, showcasing the newest techniques (both real and fictional) in crime solving. CSI is set in Las Vegas with a team of investigators led by mastermind Gil Grissom.

Gil Grissom is the typical crime drama superhero. He seems to have almost supernatural deductive powers as a crime analyst. His mantra is simple: the evidence does not lie. Locked in his own little shell, he lives and breathes forensics, entomology, biology, and science in general. He and his team - Catherine, Warrick, Sara, Nick, and Greg, with detective Jim Brass - investigate and solve crimes at a seemingly perfect clip.

Catherine is strong, witty, and second in command of the team. She is the daughter of Sam Braun - a wealthy casino owner who has found himself on both sides of the law on numerous occasions. Catherine worked as an exotic dancer before becoming a CSI and has seen both herself drugged and her daughter kidnapped, and through her tumultuous life, she has a unique perspective that contributes to her work.

A former gambling addict, Warrick finds himself in the land of temptation that is Las Vegas. He is somewhat impulsive, surprising Catherine and the rest of the team when it is discovered that he got married on a whim. He is part of a friendly duo with Nick. Amicable, easygoing, and generally friendly, Nick lets his work get to him for better or for worse. He was once the victim of a violent kidnapping aimed to harm a CSI in which he was buried alive and nearly met his death, but it does not seem to have hardened him.

Sara had a difficult childhood, ending up living with foster parents at one point, but that didn't stop her from becoming a brilliant scientist. In the latter seasons of the series, she is in a relationship with Grissom with that relationship coming at least close to marriage. Greg started out as a lab technician and worked his way into becoming a field investigator. He is a nonconformist and is far younger than the rest of the team, but he is still accepted by them. Jim is somewhat less objective than the CSIs, maintaining more of a law and order type of mentality. He has an estranged daughter who he still cares about, but he must deal with the fact that the feeling is not mutual.

CSI is a great and interesting show, but it should be noted that, in reality, crime scene investigators are exactly what the name implies. Depending on each department, a CSI may engage in lab analysis, but they are not tasked with drawing conclusions from that analysis. They do not engage in the examination of the crime or interrogation of suspects - these are left to the detective and the prosecutor. They will normally never use (or even carry) guns as the position of CSI is often a civilian position and they are generally accompanied by a police escort.

Another effect CSI and other new crime dramas have had on law enforcement is high expectations. Citizens expect every crime to be solved and juries expect every case to have physical evidence. This can be a good thing to the extent that the justice system has typically been slow to adapt. As the public demands it, they will need to improve their ability to keep up with the new technologies presented to them. In effect, CSI could be more than just another television show it can be a catalyst for a movement.

Learn more about this author, Art Vandelay.
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