That’s not to say thatCriminal Mindsis completely inaccurate, as the show doesn’t get everything wrong.

However, there’s no real-life equivalent of the BAU in the real-world FBI.

Criminal psychologists work on serial killer cases but they don’t do the work that the BAU does onscreen.

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There are also a lot fewer resources than in the show.

But criminal psychologists in real life are never placed in life-threatening situations like this.

There are no private jets for real-life criminal psychologists.

A collage of Hotch, Rossi, and the BAU team from Criminal Minds

Real analysts don’t usually leave headquarters and would never have a need for a private jet.

The real-life analysts of the FBI have meetings sometimes, but not big high-tech presentations.

Garcia is another resource a criminal psychologist team would never have.

Criminal Minds team JJ, Garcia, Prentiss, Rossi, Hotch, Reid, and Morgan.

Criminal Minds follows an elite team of FBI profilers from the Behavioral Analysis Unit as they analyze the nation’s most complex criminal minds, led by experienced agent David Rossi. The team works to anticipate and prevent crimes by understanding the behavior of these dangerous individuals.

She finds completely unrealistic information and uses hacking techniques to get it.

Criminal Mindstreats the BAU almost like law-enforcement rock stars.

They take over dealing with the press and work on the case in the field.

Group shot of Criminal Minds main characters in an elevator

The repeated explanation of what UnSub means serves as exposition for new viewers who may be unfamiliar.

This work is always evolving when new things are discovered.

Adding to the research is imperative to keep the criminal psychologist profession alive and evolving.

Criminal Minds - Norman Hill - Cat Adams - Tobias Henkel - Cases take a lot longer

Matthew Gray Gubler hasn’t returned for the Criminal Minds reboot.

However, fans can still appreciate the several episodes he directed.

In season 7, the 11th episode titled “True Genius” is about a Zodiac Killer copycat.

Criminal Minds FBI team with torches on looking at something on the ground

Hotch talks about it to Morgan when he’s getting ready to leave.

JJ’s office is often filled with files.

In the real world, this is what the job is mostly about.

Criminal Minds main characters on a plane

The team works to anticipate and prevent crimes by understanding the behavior of these dangerous individuals.

Criminal Minds villains the night stalker, Benjamin Cyrus, and George Foyet

Criminal Minds main characters listening in a meeting

Criminal Minds

Penelope Garcia on her computer in Criminal Minds

Dr. Tara from Criminal Minds sitting at her desk in the dark.

Matthew Gray Gubler in Criminal Minds

Split image of Criminal Minds including a newspaper with the headline "Zodiac Strikes Again?"

Criminal minds characters sat at a table listening in a meeting

Headshot Of Kirsten Vangsness In The The 2017 CBS Television Studios Summer

Headshot Of Matthew Gray Gubler

Criminal Minds