Wednesday, February 11, 2009

CSI Isn't Real?


Today we held our quarterly Local Leaders Luncheon featuring Thomas Marcelain, Licking County Common Pleas Judge; Licking County Sheriff Randy Thorp and Kenneth W. Oswalt, Licking County Prosecuting Attorney. It was a very interesting presentation. Each told about what their respective offices do and the type of cases they handle.

When asked if he is seeing an increase in crime due to the current economic times, Sheriff Thorp said that the numbers have remained pretty constant, although it may be a little bit too early to tell for 2009. Mr. Oswalt followed up by stating that he has seen an increase in the number of cases that involve employee theft from their employers. He urged the business men and women in the audience to put checks and balances in place and warned that you shouldn't have just one person handling all the finances for a company, even if they are the most honest individual they know.

Judge Marcelain updated everyone on new security practices that will be in place at the Courthouse and urged people to stop by the courthouse if they haven't had an opportunity to tour it.

One of the most interesting things mentioned was the fact that due to shows like CSI, the court has to spend much more time giving expert testimony in order to dismiss the myths about fingerprinting and DNA procedures that are seen on television in shows like CSI that just aren't real. But the "CSI Effect" is indeed real, according to the Yale Law Journal and others.
Thanks to everyone who attended today's lunch. Our next Local Leaders is scheduled for June 11, 2009.

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