Final answer:
The C.S.I. Effect refers to the public's expectation for consistent forensic evidence in criminal cases, influenced by crime TV shows and media coverage, which can affect the judicial process and the presumption of innocence.
Step-by-step explanation:
The tendency of the public to believe that every crime scene will yield forensic evidence and their unrealistic expectations that a prosecutor’s case should always be bolstered and supported by forensic evidence is known as the C.S.I. Effect. The C.S.I. Effect stems from the inaccurate public perception of crime investigation, often heightened by crime television series like Law & Order. These portrayals can make the public more likely to estimate the crime rate as inappropriately high and to expect constant forensic evidence, thus affecting jury decisions and the perceived credibility of a prosecutor's case.
This phenomenon is exacerbated by extensive media coverage of crime, which can intensify the public's fear and expectations surrounding the criminal justice process. Despite the prevalence of such beliefs, courts often depend more heavily on eyewitness identification and testimony, which can sometimes lead to wrongful convictions due to factors such as suggestibility and the fragile nature of memory reconstruction. The impact of these perceptions can undermine the central right of an accused individual’s presumption of innocence.