Elizabeth Devine (writer)
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth Devine is an American
crime scene investigator, notable as the writer and co-producer of the crime drama
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
.
immediately after receiving her degree in criminalistics in 1985. She became trained in crime scene investigation a year later and in that capacity worked on some of L.A.’s most high-profile murder investigations. As a member of a panel of experts brought together by Attorney General Janet Reno
, Devine contributed to the publication of a booklet entitled "Crime Scene Investigation: A Guide for Law Enforcement", a review of the fundamental principles of investigating crime scenes and preserving evidence. She became Supervising Criminalist, head of the Crime Scene program and co-supervisor of the DNA unit. She also provided training in the fields of homicide investigation, sexual assault investigation and crime scene reconstruction.
in the Outstanding Drama Series category (the award eventually went to The Sopranos
). Devine has written episodes in all three of the CSI franchise shows: CSI, CSI:Miami and CSI:New York, some of the cases are based on real crime scenes Devine worked on during her career with the LASD.
Devine has also directed videos on how law enforcement should conduct themselves when interacting with a crime scene. She now works as an Executive Producer on CSI:Miami.
and a Master's of Science degree in Criminalistics from CSU
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
crime scene investigator, notable as the writer and co-producer of the crime drama
Police procedural
The police procedural is a subgenre of detective fiction which attempts to convincingly depict the activities of a police force as they investigate crimes. While traditional detective novels usually concentrate on a single crime, police procedurals frequently depict investigations into several...
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation is an American crime drama television series, which premiered on CBS on October 6, 2000. The show was created by Anthony E. Zuiker and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer...
.
Work as criminalist
Devine joined the Los Angeles County Sheriff's DepartmentLos Angeles County Sheriff's Department
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is a local county law enforcement agency that serves Los Angeles County, California. It is the fourth largest local policing agency in the United States, with the New York City Police Department being the first. The second largest is the Chicago Police...
immediately after receiving her degree in criminalistics in 1985. She became trained in crime scene investigation a year later and in that capacity worked on some of L.A.’s most high-profile murder investigations. As a member of a panel of experts brought together by Attorney General Janet Reno
Janet Reno
Janet Wood Reno is a former Attorney General of the United States . She was nominated by President Bill Clinton on February 11, 1993, and confirmed on March 11...
, Devine contributed to the publication of a booklet entitled "Crime Scene Investigation: A Guide for Law Enforcement", a review of the fundamental principles of investigating crime scenes and preserving evidence. She became Supervising Criminalist, head of the Crime Scene program and co-supervisor of the DNA unit. She also provided training in the fields of homicide investigation, sexual assault investigation and crime scene reconstruction.
Work for television
As a criminalist and Crime Scene expert, Devine had a chance to work in the film industry as technical adviser. When after 15 years with LASD she retired from her work as a crime scene investigator, she joined the team for the show CSI : Crime Scene Investigation , first as a technical consultant, and later as writer and co-executive producer. She was nominated for a Writer's Guild award with Ann Donahue, for their Season 1 CSI episode entitled "Blood Drops." In 2004 as one of the CSI producers he was nominated for the Emmy AwardEmmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
in the Outstanding Drama Series category (the award eventually went to The Sopranos
The Sopranos
The Sopranos is an American television drama series created by David Chase that revolves around the New Jersey-based Italian-American mobster Tony Soprano and the difficulties he faces as he tries to balance the often conflicting requirements of his home life and the criminal organization he heads...
). Devine has written episodes in all three of the CSI franchise shows: CSI, CSI:Miami and CSI:New York, some of the cases are based on real crime scenes Devine worked on during her career with the LASD.
Devine has also directed videos on how law enforcement should conduct themselves when interacting with a crime scene. She now works as an Executive Producer on CSI:Miami.
Work as a teacher
Devine is now teaching a Crime Scene Investigation class to Juniors and Seniors at La Canada High School. This class involves learning about how a criminalist will process a crime scene as well as gather evidence. The class is also about the legal system and how a criminal will be processed by our legal system, as well as appearing in court and testifying about evidence.Education
Devine holds a Bachelor's of Science degree in Biology from UCLAUniversity of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
and a Master's of Science degree in Criminalistics from CSU
California State University, Los Angeles
California State University, Los Angeles is a public comprehensive university, part of the California State University system...
.
Private life
In 1992 she married Michael Devine; they divorced in 2000. They have three children: Austin (b. 1994), Katherine (b. 1995), and Rachel (b. 1997).External links
- Innovative Techniques in Forensic Science; CSI on the TV and in Real Life - transcript of the CNN program House Call with Dr. Sanjay Gupta
- Forensic sleuthing comes to prime time on 'C.S.I.' - interview with Elizabeth Devine on CNN.com
- In Her Blood - interview with Elizabeth Devine on MyCollegeDaily (Google Cache)
- Crime Scene Investigation: A Guide for Law Enforcement at the National Criminal Justice Reference Service