The pitch-black room I am stepping into is filled with a deadening silence. All I hear is my own breath: inhale, exhale. I try to take soft, quiet steps, but I know I am heard. Somehow I know I am not alone. My skin feels chilled, goosebumps appear on my arms. I know something is wrong. Something horrific is about to happen. And I am going to be the victim ... screen flashes black.
    In that moment, I feel myself grabbed and who knows what else. But then I am taken back to reality as my TV begins to play the show's intro. 
    Hi, my name is Ashley, and I am a crime show addict. I spend the majority of my free time watching killers get caught and victims getting shot. And tortured. And not killed but emotionally and physically scarred for life. Yes, this sounds morbid. But these shows hold my complete and utter attention. 
    I don’t know what captivates me so much, but I am not alone in my addiction. Popular crime shows including “CSI”, “NCIS”, “Law and Order”, “Criminal Minds” and all the spinoffs of those such as “CSI: Miami”, “CSI: New York”, “Law and Order: SVU”, and “Law and Order: Criminal Intent” are viewed daily by millions of people. "CSI"  is aired in all countries but six, which means the show is on air every second of every day. 
    Critics have suggested that the reason for the addiction is simply because the shows pull at many of our emotions. They are not just a mystery and they are not just a love story. They are not just about complicated relationships or the new inventions of our times. The shows create a rollercoaster of emotions that keep viewers like me on the edge of our seats, waiting for the detectives to slap some handcuffs on somebody.
    We, the viewers, no matter what country we live in, all feel something when the victim is shown. We get excited as the evidence and intricate science leads the detectives closer to catching the bad guy. And everyone loves watching the bad guys get caught. 
    Other than the emotions, I believe my addiction is formed from the real-life aspect of the shows. The realization of what could happen to the old women who lives on floor eight of my grandma’s apartment building, or the little boy who always rides his tricycle past my house. 
    Thinking that way, though, can cause paranoia and misconceptions. According to a 2009 Purdue University study, people who watch forensic and crime dramas on TV are more likely than non viewers to have a distorted perception of America's criminal justice system, and watching these shows can shape opinions about the world in general. 
    According the study, crime show watchers overestimate the frequency of serious crimes, misperceive important facts about crime and misjudge the number of workers in the judicial system. 
    On the other hand, these shows have had a positive impact and have inspired many people to get involved with criminal justice. 
    I would love to be a detective, or at least I like to think so after an episode of SVU is over. The truth is, the furthest I’ll get away from my TV and the closest I’ll be to an actual crime will probably be if my journalism career lets me write about criminal justice. Until then, I will only know the investigations on my TV.