What Crime Shows Get Wrong

KAREN KAJMOWICZ

WHAT CRIME

SHOWS GET WRONG

TV IS NOT REALITY Shows about crime are among the most popular on television.

After all, they give viewers what feels like a look into the world of real detectives and police officers and helps people to make sense of issues that are often quite horrific. In reality, though, much of what’s on the screen doesn’t match up with reality. Below are just a few of the things that crime shows tend to get wrong about the criminal investigation process.

CRIME SHOWS GET IT WRONG

DNA TESTING LOOKING AT THE SCIENCE Some of what doesn’t match up has to do with timing. DNA testing has become an incredibly important part of crime shows, something that seems to take just minutes in high-tech labs. In reality, a DNA test usually takes over two days to complete from beginning to end, and that’s only if it is processed immediately. It’s not uncommon for it to take weeks or even months for a test to be fully processed and returned to the police. In fact, there are some departments with DNA testing backlogs that can go on for years, making it even harder for detectives to solve cases.

ANTICLIMATIC UNSATISFYING CONCLUSIONS Real life is not only slower, but it also tends to lack satisfying conclusions. While the average television case can be brought to an end within an hour or two, real-life cases can often take much longer to be solved. In fact, mostcrimes are never ‘cleared’ by the detectives who investigate them, often languishing due to a lack of evidence or resources. The real world seldom wraps things up as easily as you might expect from television.

THE PAPERWORK Finally, real crime shows tend to omit the more mundane parts of the investigation. Police officers and detectives spend a great deal of time filing paperwork, filling out forms, and doing the mundane tasks that lay the groundwork for future arrests.

Even the thrilling shootouts that are at the climax of most shows is usually followed by weeks of assessment and desk work, something that doesn’t exactly make for the most exciting television.