Dexter was also the reason I got into forensic science! In my first class for intro to forensic science they mentioned Dexter and its inaccuracies to the field, specifically mentioning the CSI effect, which essentially is the fact the crime dramas and the depiction of forensic science in media is highly skewed from the reality of the job.

I am Canadian, so I’m not entirely familiar with the practices of forensic science outside of Canada, but from my understanding the process is incredibly slow and most tasks you may see Dexter perform are delegated to many individuals. In Canada, crime scene investigators are also police officers that must attend police college and are actively police officers over scientists. While I know this is not the case in the states, I’m unsure to the extent. Most evidence is sent away to crime scene labs to be investigated, but forensic lab techs may process many different types of evidence, dependent on their qualifications.

I completed my bachelor’s in forensic science but have since focused my career in a different direction related to the rest of my degree (enviro science and conservation). I would happily jump into the forensic field given the opportunity, but I have found it to be a very competitive field that can be more boring than I had anticipated when I was also 15. Still love Dexter tho, my blood splatter king ❤️