The Reality of Courtroom Drama: Why Fiction Gets It So Wrong
When I first became a cop, I had some pretty skewed ideas of what court was going to be like. Thanks to books, TV and movies, I was expecting explosive moments where lawyers screamed “OBJECTION!” at every turn, and witnesses got grilled like they were on trial for war crimes. I figured every trial would have at least one “You can’t handle the truth!” moment, and the room would erupt in chaos at least once a day.
Spoiler alert: it’s nothing like that. The truth? Courtrooms are a lot more like a polite board meeting than a soap opera. Attorneys don’t scream (usually), witnesses aren’t badgered until they break down, and most of the time, it’s a calm, controlled atmosphere. Here’s a look at what really happens in the courtroom, and how you can inject real drama into your courtroom scenes without slipping into melodrama.
Court Isn’t the Free-For-All You Think It Is
The most glaring mistake in TV courtrooms is the idea that anything goes. We’ve all seen the scenes: a lawyer is belittling the witness, another one’s screaming “Objection!” every other line, and the judge is either banging their gavel or lounging in their seat, looking annoyed. It’s all fun to watch, but that’s about where the accuracy ends. (The gavel thing is especially annoying. I’ve literally never seen a judge bang a gavel in court.)
In reality, courtroom decorum is extremely structured. Lawyers are respectful to each other (yes, even the ones who don’t get along). The process of raising objections is a calm and measured thing. You don’t shout “OBJECTION!”—you simply state your objection clearly and respectfully, and then the judge calmly rules on it. If anyone starts grandstanding or raising their voice, they’re usually told to knock it off pretty quickly.
What’s wrong here:
Courtroom dramas usually emphasize conflict by turning the volume up—literally. Attorneys yell, witnesses crack under pressure, and the judge is there to referee a circus. The truth is, if you saw a lawyer act the way they do on TV in real life, they’d likely be held in contempt or, at the very least, get a dressing down by the judge. It's all about respect and protocol.
Witnesses Don’t Get Screamed At—It’s All About the Details
Another big misconception is that witnesses get verbally beaten down until they confess to something—usually in a fiery monologue that’s clearly written for an Oscar reel. In real life, cross-examination is more about precision and subtlety than raising your voice.
Attorneys want witnesses to slip up, sure, but they’re not trying to terrify them into submission. The idea is to trip them up with inconsistencies, ask strategic questions, and let their answers speak for themselves. The courtroom is about fact-finding, not melodrama. There’s no place for screaming matches or forced confessions.
How to fix it:
You can still write compelling cross-examinations, but instead of turning up the heat with aggressive yelling, focus on building tension through the content of the questions. A well-timed, precise question that throws the witness off balance can be just as gripping—and far more realistic—than a tirade.
It’s Polite, Mundane... But That Doesn’t Mean It’s Boring
Yes, real courtroom proceedings can be incredibly mundane. Lots of legal arguments, long-winded explanations, and procedural motions. But just because the drama is dialed down doesn’t mean it can’t still be tense and engaging. The key is to understand that the drama doesn’t come from volume—it comes from what’s at stake.
The real tension in a courtroom isn’t in how loud someone can shout, it’s in what’s hanging in the balance. You’ve got people’s futures, their freedom, their lives on the line. The stakes are naturally high, and subtle tension can be far more powerful than forced conflict.
Incorporating Drama Without Turning to Melodrama
The good news? You can still write courtroom scenes that are compelling without turning the courtroom into a wrestling match. Here’s how:
Focus on Strategy, Not Volume: Real-life attorneys don’t shout; they strategize. Instead of loud objections and theatrics, show the mental chess match between lawyers. Let the tension come from their carefully planned questions and responses.
Subtle Body Language: Courtroom drama doesn’t have to come from words. A judge’s pause before ruling on an objection, a witness’s hesitation before answering a question, or a lawyer’s knowing glance at their client can speak volumes. Use these small moments to build tension.
The Stakes: Remember, the stakes are always high in a courtroom. Whether it’s a life sentence, a hefty fine, or even just public reputation, there’s always something important on the line. Use that to your advantage. You don’t need shouting to create drama when the audience knows what’s at stake.
Real Courtroom Drama Can Be Just as Tense—Without the Yelling
I get it. Everyone loves a good courtroom showdown. But if you want to avoid the melodrama and keep your story grounded in reality, focus on authentic tension. The real drama in a courtroom comes from what’s being said—and what’s at stake—not from raised voices and grandstanding. The real-world legal system is built on control, respect, and strategy, and when you know how to balance those with good storytelling, you can have a courtroom scene that’s both authentic and thrilling.
If you’re looking to write more realistic courtroom scenes or need help with any other law enforcement-related content, I’m here to help. As someone who’s worked countless cases, testified in real courtrooms, and seen how it all goes down, I can help you bring your scenes to life without losing that much-needed dramatic edge.
The Role of a Technical Advisor: How to Make Your Crime Story Believable
When it comes to creating an authentic and gripping crime story, having a technical advisor is the secret weapon that separates the good from the great. A technical advisor with real-world law enforcement experience can take your film, TV, or book project to the next level, ensuring that every detail feels grounded in reality. But what exactly does a technical advisor do, and why is it crucial to get one on board? Let’s break it down.
What Does a Police Technical Advisor Do?
A technical advisor acts as the bridge between real-world police work and the fictional universe you’re creating. They’re responsible for guiding your script, your cast, and your crew to ensure that what ends up on screen (or in print) reflects how things actually happen in law enforcement.
Here are some key areas where a police technical advisor can help:
Procedural Accuracy: Whether it’s the proper way to conduct an arrest, how detectives process crime scenes, or the correct terminology used in a police station, an advisor ensures that the procedures shown align with real-world practices. This avoids jarring moments that can take your audience out of the story.
Character Behavior and Dialogue: A technical advisor can help your actors get into the mindset of law enforcement professionals, teaching them how a detective or officer would really talk, move, and interact with colleagues and suspects. This is especially important for portraying rank-and-file dynamics, chain of command, and the emotional weight of police work.
Crime Scene Authenticity: From forensic evidence collection to how long it actually takes to get DNA results back, a technical advisor brings realism to how investigations unfold. Instead of the detective solving the case in a montage of fast-paced scenes, the advisor ensures that your portrayal of investigations shows the patience and methodical work that’s really involved.
Why You Can’t Rely on Outdated Knowledge
Many productions make the mistake of relying on advisors who haven’t been in the field for years, or simply trust popular tropes from other shows. The problem? The game has changed. Modern police work has evolved dramatically, especially with the rise of digital forensics, data surveillance, and advanced technology.
An advisor who’s still active in law enforcement brings fresh, relevant insight that you won’t get from someone who’s been out of the game for too long. Today’s investigations often hinge on digital forensics, social media analysis, and other things that simply weren’t part of the toolkit in years past ago. Without someone current, you run the risk of having an outdated portrayal that doesn’t match the reality of modern policing.
Why Authenticity Matters
Sure, creative license is necessary—you don’t want to bog down your crime drama with the mundane aspects of police work. But believable details elevate the tension, credibility, and engagement of your story. Modern audiences, especially fans of crime genres, are savvy and expect a higher level of authenticity.
Whether it’s nailing the look of a crime scene, accurately portraying courtroom procedures, or getting the dynamic between detectives and patrol officers just right, a technical advisor helps you strike that balance between dramatic flair and realistic detail.
How to Work with a Police Technical Advisor
If you’re bringing a technical advisor on board, here’s how to make the most of their expertise:
Early Involvement: Bring your advisor in during the script development phase. They can help shape scenes and characters from the ground up, ensuring the foundation of your story is authentic.
On-Set Guidance: During production, an advisor can ensure your actors are performing tasks like arrests, interrogations, or evidence collection correctly. They’ll also help ensure props (like police badges, uniforms, or crime scene equipment) are accurate.
Post-Production Review: After filming or writing is complete, having a technical advisor review the final cut or manuscript ensures any small errors are caught before release.
Real-World Examples of Great Technical Advice
Some of the best crime shows and films have been known for their authenticity because they worked with real-life professionals. Take shows like The Wire or True Detective—the gritty realism in these shows came from meticulous research and close collaboration with technical advisors who lived the job.
When a story feels real, the stakes feel higher, and the audience stays locked in. A technical advisor is the key to getting that edge.
Need an Advisor? Let’s Talk
As a working homicide detective, I bring modern expertise to the table. Whether you're writing a script or directing a scene, I can help you strike the perfect balance between drama and realism, making sure your crime story feels authentic to today’s world.
The 5 Biggest Police Procedure Mistakes on Screen (And How to Fix Them.)
It all begins with an idea.
Ready to bring some real-world accuracy to your scripts? Let’s get into it.
1. The "Loud and Proud" Interrogation Room
For some reason, every TV detective thinks the best way to get a confession is to start screaming like Gunnery Sergeant Hartman in Full Metal Jacket. They lean in, raise their voice, and within minutes, the suspect is spilling everything from the crime to what they had for lunch.
What’s wrong here:
In real life, yelling at someone won’t magically make them confess—it’ll just make you look like you need anger management. Most interrogations aren’t about shouting matches; they’re about psychology and knowing when to push and when to back off. We’re not out here interrogating people for days on end, either. That’s just a waste of time.
How to get it right:
Less Vince McMahon, more Sun Tzu. Interrogations are about patience, precision, and outthinking your opponent—not kicking down doors. Interrogations are quiet, strategic, and a lot more about reading body language than raising your voice. You can still have tension, but it comes from the subtle push-and-pull, not the yelling.
2. The "Feds Steal the Show" Trope
There’s a moment in every show where the feds barge in, start throwing their weight around, and say they’re taking over the case. The local cops get all upset, and suddenly there’s a turf war. But here’s the truth: the feds aren’t sitting around waiting to hijack local investigations for fun.
What’s wrong here:
Federal agencies like the FBI or postal inspectors deal with federal crimes—stuff like mail theft, interstate extortion, or terrorism. The locals handle the local stuff. More often than not, the locals are begging the feds to get involved when they stumble onto something like interstate fraud. So, it’s not about who’s the big dog; it’s about knowing when to bring in the right people.
How to get it right:
Instead of the feds swooping in and taking over, flip the script. Have the local cops call the feds for help because they need it. That’s how it goes in real life—it's a team effort, not a takeover.
3. CSI in Record Time
We’ve all seen it: the detective grabs a single hair, and within minutes, the lab spits out a full DNA profile. It’s fast, it’s clean, and it’s... entirely fiction.
What’s wrong here:
DNA testing takes time. Days, if not weeks. And the idea that someone’s going to match a blurry surveillance video to a face in a matter of seconds? Only in TV land. In reality, we’re often working with grainy footage that barely helps, and DNA results don’t just magically appear.
How to get it right:
Show the waiting game. The detective is on edge because the results haven’t come back yet, and that’s what drives the suspense. Real detective work is all about balancing old-school methods with the slow grind of tech results.
4. Technology to the Rescue... Instantly
TV detectives act like they’re working with Iron Man tech. They track phones with pinpoint precision, enhance grainy photos until they’re crystal clear, and hack into systems in seconds. Yeah... no.
What’s wrong here:
Surveillance footage is usually a mess, phone tracking is far from perfect, and no one’s hacking into anything that fast. It’s not that we don’t use tech, but it’s not this flawless, all-powerful tool that solves everything instantly.
How to get it right:
Show the limitations. Detectives don’t have the perfect shot or the exact location—they have to piece it all together with what they’ve got, and it’s usually not much. That’s where the real detective work comes in.
5. The Detective Who Does It All
Apparently, TV detectives are superhuman. They’re chasing down suspects, analyzing evidence, booking people, and still managing to crack jokes over coffee. But in real life? They’d be drowning in paperwork before they even got to the action scenes.
What’s wrong here:
Detectives don’t handle every part of an investigation—there’s a whole team involved. Crime scene techs, patrol officers, forensics specialists—they all play a part. No detective is running around doing everything themselves.
How to get it right:
Spread the work around. Show the real team effort it takes to solve a case. That way, your detective can focus on doing what they do best: solving the mystery, not playing all the roles.
Final Thoughts
Of course, no one’s flipping on Netflix to watch a detective spend three hours filling out paperwork. Creative license is necessary to keep the pace up and the drama high. But balance is key. By getting the core details right—whether it’s how interrogations really work or how different agencies interact—you ground the story in enough reality to make those creative stretches feel believable.
That’s where I come in. As a working homicide detective, I bring the experience and modern knowledge to help you strike that perfect balance between drama and authenticity. Whether you’re writing, directing, or producing, I’ll make sure your crime stories have the right mix of realism and compelling storytelling.
Why rely on outdated knowledge when you can have the expertise of someone who’s in the trenches today? Let’s work together to bring your crime scenes, characters, and investigations to life in a way that’s both true to the world of law enforcement and engaging for your audience.