Why CSI is mostly fake

I rather liked the CSI Vegas show, although I always noticed holes in plotting and some inconsistencies in character that could be annoying. But the idea of using deductive science to solve mysteries was appealing.

What I didn't know is that The Academy of Sciences did an extensive investigation of the alleged science behind criminal forensics and published a comprehensive report in 2009. The conclusion? The only totally dependable evidence is DNA. Even fingerprints are not as definitive as we tend to believe, never mind bite marks and blood splatter. (I am currently reading a long account of how a husband was railroaded for the death of his wife using supposed blood spatter evidence).

This Frontline piece covers the new findings very well. And, indeed, it comes out that DA's like forensic evidence, however shaky, to get convictions.

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/fi...