CSIs in Illinois deal with lack of evidence, smarter crooks

State Journal-Register

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- "CSI" and its spinoffs mean more time in court for members the Illinois State Police Forensic Science Lab.

The testimony, many times, isn't to break open a case.

"It is to explain things like why there isn't a print," said Robert Davis, director of the Springfield crime lab. "More often than not, you won't find a print you can use to make a comparison.

"I think the public expects things to happen quicker than they really do, too," he said.

"It's made offenders a little bit smarter," said trooper Jim Vail. "I had a gas station burglary where the security camera shows this guy scooting in on his belly so he didn't leave footprints. Of course, he was identified from the video."

Sangamon County state's attorney John Schmidt knows about the expectations of a jury, but says he hasn't noticed a big increase in what is called "the CSI effect."

"We have to a certain extent, but it really started before the TV show with the notoriety of DNA," he said.

There is a plus side to "CSI," though.

"Since 'CSI' has been on television, it has been a good recruiting tool," Davis said.

He teaches a class on forensics at Springfield College and says it is now always full.