The right evidence or lack of evidence can be crucial to an effective criminal defense theory. Connecticut officials have recently asked police to limit the amount of evidence sent to state crime labs because of what is referred to as the "CSI effect."

The term CSI effect refers to the growing expectation among jurors to see forensic evidence like DNA testing at criminal trials and is named after the popular television show "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation." Because of the new expectation of jurors, police are sending more evidence to state crime labs to be tested than ever before. As a result, the state lab has asked police departments across Connecticut to limit their number of submissions.

The number of delayed DNA tests has increased over the last half decade. In the middle of 2006 there were fewer than 250 DNA cases that had not been started. By 2011, there were almost 3,900 DNA cases that were on backlog. The backlog of evidence at the state crime lab is so large that there is a three year wait for DNA testing in many cases. Because of the wait, the backlog presents the potential to interfere with the speedy carriage of justice in some instances.

In addition to the submission limit, the state lab is incorporating other efforts to reduce submitted evidence and the backlog. Under new guidelines, the crime lab will not perform DNA testing for certain cases that involve recovered stolen vehicles not used to further other crimes, found property, thefts of property worth less than $2,000 and misdemeanor offenses.

Source: The Associated Press, "Conn. crime lab seeks to slow 'CSI effect', asks police to submit less evidence due to backlog," Dave Collins, Jan. 22, 2012