🚓🚧🧬🔬 “About Those Crime Scenes …” 🔬🧬🚧🚓

🩸🔬CSI: Crime Scene Information 🔬🩸

 

I know, this is the SECOND non-book review post in a row. 

 

Occasionally, as you may have noticed, my blogs can get as “wordy” as my reviews. To be honest, this is stuff I wanted to feature in the “What Goes into My Reviews” blog, but that was quite long as it was, and this information didn’t exactly “fit” in with the entire point of that one. 

 

But, it DOES have to do with the “review”. 

 

This isn’t to re-hash anything, but more or less expand on issues I saw in the book and hopefully provide a little “clarity” on where I got some of my information that influenced my “critique”. 

 

Often, my educational and life experience background gets me in trouble – literally. And, it definitely did because of that review. It’s not new territory, my grandma often said I was too smart for my own good – the reaction is definitely new territory for me though. 

 

Here’s a bit of background on me that will probably come as a surprise to some …

 

When I was doing a home study program for my high school diploma between September 1992 to January 1994 (date I graduated), one of my electives was Criminal Investigation. Though, to be honest – it was more focused on Crime Scene Processing – collecting evidence, photographing crime scenes, casting prints. At 17½, I managed an 82% in the course. 

 

I was upset because in Patrol Procedures, I’d gotten an 83%. I wasn’t interested in patrol – I wanted to investigate. I know – they are both “B” grades, and for not even being 18 at the time, pretty good grades. “Holding myself to a higher standard” is NOTHING new for me. 

 

Between March 2011 and October 2012, I was enrolled in an online college for my bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. I felt so out of my league, but dove right in. My concentrations were Forensic Psychology and Homeland Security. In 2007, I had taken some Psychology classes as well. 

 

Multiple factors resulted in me leaving college, and I do wish I had been able to complete the program. However, my GPA was 3.5 (with an incomplete class) to 3.8 (not counting the uncompleted class). 

 

In the areas of: 

 

🚓 Introduction to Criminal Justice

🏛️ Introduction to Criminal Law

🏛️ Criminal Procedure (First Contact to Appeal)

🏛️ The Courts in our Criminal Justice System

🚓 Criminal Investigation

 

I got an “A” in each class. So, yes, I do know a thing or two about the subject. That is what, I feel, often hinders me in reading a book. Though I appreciate the authors who do a “general” and “vague” depiction. 

  

When there are minor issues, I do ignore them. Most authors will state they consulted someone and any errors remaining are theirs. If the errors are major or egregious, I feel that I would not be doing my best as a reviewer if I were to ignore them. This is especially true when there are MULTIPLE  inaccuracies which are essential to the plot, or at best a major ARC of the story. 

 

As detailed in said review … 

 

A HUGE error regarded the legality of the issuance of a “final” restraining order for a domestic violence victim. The way it was written – it came across as being on the “shady” side, as in “that isn’t how the state law and court system works”. It was an egregious error that didn’t need to occur. It was one that was easily researched. I was able to provide evidence on my findings. A simple pamphlet found online.

 

There were also crime scene processing mistakes. Reading the mishandling of the scene was, I will admit, aggravating. I’m sorry for being aggravated. Perhaps I shouldn’t have been, but this is an area I excelled in during college. While even the CSI series aren’t 100% accurate – they were far more accurate than what was portrayed in the book. It isn’t like the information isn’t available or accessible. 

 

One of my favorite textbooks is Criminal Investigation: The Art and Science (5^th edition, Michael D. Lyman, 2008). Interestingly, it was one of my first “bargain” finds. The book was USED: Like New for $6.99 with $3.99 shipping. After tax? $10.98. I had $10.80 in gift card balances – yes, it cost 18¢. And, it is worth every single dime, nickel, and three pennies spent.  

If you’ve read the review, you know. If you haven’t – it won’t be too hard to find. And, while the story is fiction – it should have SOME semblance of reality to boost credibility. This is quite easy to do when the information is out there. Even a library should have some textbooks to peruse. 

 

Moving on …

 

Chapter 2 of this AMAZING textbook highlights exactly what I said in the review about Crime Scene Processing. I have another book about crime scenes, which sadly I packed in June when I THOUGHT I was going to move. I’ve been trying to locate it. And, if I do – there might be an edit to this blog. For now, I’ll work with what I got. 

While I get NO ONE wants to be proven wrong, I used what I learned from my classes in my review to critique the believability of the story. 

An anonymous commentor thought I “picked the book apart”. After seeing the comment, I went back and did some research on the points in my review to see if I might’ve been too “picky” – in short, were they as MAJOR as I thought they were. Then again, isn’t that the point of a review? Analysis and assessment; critiquing the book? 

 

My research led me to write this blog to present evidence on the issues I had, and support my claims referring to the errors as major. When I study – I study hard. It’s akin to branding the material on my brain. I honestly understand that NO ONE likes a “know-it-all”. I get it. I don’t like them when I’m wrong. I don’t like them period. 

 

I won’t go over the entire section of that review – but, the highlights were: 

 

#1 – The responding officer’s (not usually detective) FIRST job is to assess if anyone needs medical attention; detention of witnesses for questioning; and preserving the crime scene. 

#2 – An officer would NOT pick up a firearm with a pen or stick it in a plastic bag – he’d LEAVE it where it was found. Here’s from page 39. Note: “Weapons, of course, should always be properly documented through photos and sketching before they are moved”. The section goes into detail on “how” to pick up a firearm:

#3 – Preserving the evidence (and scene) would NOT have the victims reenacting where they stood when it happened since moving around would contaminate the crime scene.

 

Page 45 highlights the procedure: 

 

#4 – Witnesses. My words? “I am fairly certain most everyone (guests and staff) would be questioned” – I offer this: 

 

There might be some who disagree, but no, I was not being picky.

On a final and sad note … 

 

Back in 2011 and 2012, I was able to visit CSI: The Experience three (3) times. And, all three were free. The first time was in November 2011 when I won a 2-person VIP Meet & Greet with Gary Sinise. I also got two passes for the attraction, and two tickets to his show. 

 

The next time I went – I had redeemed some “game” points for a ticket (MyVegas Rewards). And, the third time? A ticket was one of my my blood donation “thank you” gifts. Thus, I was able to do all three cases for free and REALLY get the entire experience. 

 

It was a fun, immersive, educational, and unique experience. I took my time and soaked in EVERYTHING that was there. It was one of those experiences you cannot even begin to describe. Viewing a crime scene, analyzing evidence, comparing ballistics, making notes, and entering the findings on the computer for the “report” – an absolute joy!

 

In a Facebook post back in 2014, I teased: “Just so ya know .. I know crime scenes”. 

 

 

I had no idea that eight (8) years later, it’d almost be a fact. 

 

The sad part? Due to the pandemic, this WONDERFUL attraction is permanently closed and no longer at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. I found out when researching it for this blog. I wish they would have let us take a few pictures because there was (and is) nothing out there like it. 

 

Turns out, it was moved from “The District” near the food court (where I originally went) to the “underground” area prior to the closure, the “dead-zone”. 

 

At least I have my “diploma” and a few case notes for memories. 

 

Did I ever mention how much I LOVED playing my CSI: NY (not pictured), CSI: Miami, and CSI PC games and flew right through them with little to no guidance? I also have the NCIS PC game as well.

 

Yes, I really do know my crime scenes after all! 

The main point … textbooks can be great reference tools for writing. That’s why I’ve kept mine as close as possible. I do have quite a few from 18 months of college as well as some I’ve procured since then. And, that when I know a subject, I put my knowledge to good use.