Did you ever go to an exhibit and think to yourself that something you are looking at shouldn’t be there? Does a group need permission to display items they have collected over the years? What about the police—can or should they display evidence as part of an exhibit?

Recently, the suit that OJ Simpson wore when he was acquitted of double murder has been in the news. Apparently it’s looking for a new home and some museums are interested in purchasing it and placing it on display. With the exception of those people fascinated with OJ (read: my husband, Seth and his cohorts), I surmise no one really has any interest in seeing the suit. Further, I am sure that to the families of the victims, such a display would be painful and offensive as would the profits garnered from its showing.

A similar inappropriate situation has arisen with certain evidence from the 1968 assassination of Robert F. Kennedy. The Los Angeles Police Department thought it wise to include the bloody clothes worn by the slain Kennedy in an exhibition at a Las Vegas casino. To me, the mere idea of such a thing sends shivers down my spine. I would not want to look at blood-drenched clothing from a murder victim—but maybe it’s just me.

I seem to have company in my feelings, though. Kennedy’s son, Maxwell Taylor Kennedy, was outraged and demanded that the clothes be removed from display. Kennedy stated that having such an exhibit “sends a message to victims of violent crime across the state that if you turn over evidence to the police,they may eventually put your most personal pain on stage at a Vegas casino."

But, hasn’t the damage been done already?

What makes this situation more egregious is that 10 years ago, the family requested the return of the clothing. The police department essentially ignored every request and still,the clothing has not been turned over.

The exhibit itself markets itself as the first-ever look at homicide evidence. It includes, among other items, the rope used in the Manson family murder of Sharon Tate.

Perhaps such exhibits could peak the fancy of some macabre fanatics or people interested in real-life crime stories. However, to the average observer, they seem inappropriate at best and offensive at worst. Further, I am most troubled that the police would permit evidence from such cases to be displayed. Certainly, there must be some restrictions put in place that would prohibit the exhibition of items that originate from a crime scene.