The Reality of CSI

A Newsweek reporter attends a conference on forensic science and finds the only thing in common between real forensic investigation and its countless TV incarnations is that they all involve dead bodies. After that, TV is a wonderland of tests and equipment which either do not exist or take more time and equipment than viewers will ever learn about. Added to that, most police departments have no access to the cool stuff on programs like CSI, and could not afford it if they did.