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Jul 22, 2010 9:56 pm US/Central
CSI: Summer Camp Style
RICHARDSON (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
Three nights a week, over 60 million americans watch the CSI series on CBS. the popularity of the 3 shows has led a whole new generation to get interested in criminology, and forensic science. In North Texas there's enough new blood that the University of Texas at Dallas, is now offering a CSI summer camp. showing you what the TV shows don't.
It's always high drama on CSI, where viewers go from crime to conclusion in under an hour. That's not what happens in the real world, says former Army Crime Scene Investigator Stephanie James. "The CSI shows sort of convolute the roles… So what I'm trying to do is give the reality behind the shows."
The CSI camp students use the same procedures, techniques and equipment real CSI's use, but without the magic of TV. "On the TV shows, it's one person doing 4 jobs, here I learned it's one person for each job" says CSI camper Nathan Kalldin.
During the three day and overnight camp sessions students learn techniques for evidence collection, how to document a crime scene and search for possible DNA. Campers even get down and dirty making impressions of their shoes, a highly used tool in criminology, to tie a suspect to the scene. "When you find a footprint, you have to mark it off, and then you have to put the rulers beside it so you know the size" says camper Tori Bengston
The familiar dusting for finger prints is something always seen on the crime shows, and it's taught here as well, still a critical technique for real investigators. Kids were a little surprised to learn that there were multiple ways to actually get finger prints off of different sources, but what they really loved, was the blood splatter.
They use a weapon to recreate blunt force trauma. From the splatter they'll be able to identify the angle of impact, and that can often unlock the mystery of what happened.
That's intriguing to all of these students. "Not just actually doing it, but learning how each degree makes a big difference in how it can all come into play" says Kalldin.
"Being able to come here and learn this and experience what these professionals do every day, is really interesting" adds Bengston.
The camps for this summer come to an end this week, but based on the rising interest since starting the camp last year, it will be back at UT Dallas next summer.
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