Police procedurals have been a television staple for decades, enough that it’s hard to imagine a time when they weren’t a part of TV’s weekly lineup. The genre tells the stories of people whose jobs are to solve crimes every single day, and although these shows can be formulaic, there’s a certain comfort in knowing what you’ll get week after week, episode after episode, and that the good guys (almost) always win and justice prevails.
The popularity of police proceduralshas never waned, even with recent criticisms of them, but the genre was especially popular in the 2000s, with great shows which set the standard for what a great police procedural can be. Some of the series of the time have gone on to become amongthe longest-running TV showsof all time, with new episodes continuing to air even now.
10’Castle' (2009-2016)
Created by Andrew W. Marlowe
InCastle, after a murder used novelist Richard Castle’s (Nathan Fillion) books as inspiration for his killings, homicide detective Kate Beckett (Stana Katic) turned to Castle for help in tracking the murderer down. Castle decided to stay with the police force as research for his novels, and his and Beckett’s very different personalities often led to them butting heads—until they started dating.Castleran for eight seasonson ABC, from 2009 until 2016.
The format of the police procedural hasn’t changed much over the years, butCastleput a new spin on it with its premise. The series was also a more lighthearted take on the genre, often leaning on comedy, but it still presented its fair share of dark, disturbing cases. As the series progressed, it also leaned in to the great chemistry between Castle and Beckett and explored their romance, despite high-profile reports oftension between the two stars.
A suave, best-selling author teams up with a strait-laced detective to solve crimes in New York City.
Watch on Hulu
9’The Mentalist' (2008-2015)
Created by Bruno Heller
After using his observation skills to make a career as a so-called psychic, Patrick Jane (Simon Baker) revealed himself and began working as a consultant for the California Bureau of Investigation in order to track down Red John, a serial killer who murdered Patrick’s wife and daughter, inThe Mentalist. As the series progressed, Patrick began a romance with colleague Teresa Lisbon (Robin Tunney).The Mentalistaired on CBS for seven seasons with over 100 episodes.
Patrick was a fascinating character;the murders of his wife and daughter left him traumatized and out for revenge, but his behavior within the CBI made him frustrating to work with in Lisbon. And Patrick was just one of the things which madeThe Mentaliststand out from other shows at the time with a similar premise. Among others were the brutality of Red John and Jane’s colleagues, Lisbon especially.
The Mentalist
A famous “psychic” outs himself as a fake, and starts working as a consultant for the California Bureau of Investigation so he can find “Red John”, the madman who killed his wife and daughter.
Watch on Max
8’Monk' (2002-2009)
Created by Andy Breckman
In the aftermath of his wife’s murder, detective Adrian Monk (Tony Shalhoub) developed Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder inMonk, which aired on the USA Network. Although he lost his job with the San Francisco police, Monk continued to work with the squad as a consultant. The show lasted eight seasons and over 100 episodes, andMonk returned in 2023 withMr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Moviewhich streamed on Peacock.
Monkwas entertaining to watch as the detective balanced his cases with his OCD, andhe was among TV’s most likable detectives, as well as the most brilliant, with a keen eye which impressed even his peers. Critics agreed—Shalhoub won three Emmy Awards for his performance over the show’s run. It was also a huge hit, with its series finale setting the record for the most-viewed scripted drama on cable television, although it was eventually beaten byThe Walking Dead.
The series follows Adrian Monk, a brilliant former San Francisco detective, who now consults the police as a private consultant whilst battling with an obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Watch on Netflix
7’Bones' (2005-2017)
Created by Hart Hanson
InBones, FBI Special Agent Seeley Booth (David Boreanaz) works with the Jeffersonian Institute’s forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan (Emily Deschanel) on cases where the only thing left of the bodies were bones. The two hada slow-burn romanceover the course of the series.Bonesaired on Fox and lasted 12 seasons and over 200 episodes. It was loosely based on the novels and experiences of the actualforensic anthropologist Kathy Reichs, who also worked on the show as a producer.
LikeCastle,Boneswas a somewhat lighthearted police proceduraland often used humor, and it also featured a romance between its two leads thanks to their onscreen chemistry - something which only contributed to the show’s appeal and became central to it. AlthoughBonestypically focused on the case of the week, it did occasionally delve into serialized plots. It was a hit for Fox with a devoted fanbase, and still to this day, it’s the network’s longest-running scripted drama.
F.B.I. Special Agent Seeley Booth teams up with the Jeffersonian’s top anthropologist, Dr. Temperance Brennan, to investigate cases where all that’s left of the victims are their bones.
Watch on Prime
6’Criminal Minds' (2005-2020)
Created by Jeff Davis
To solve some of the country’s most disturbing murders, a group of FBI agents worked together in the bureau’s Behavioral Analysis Unit inCriminal Minds. Cases inCriminal Mindsoften involve serial killers, with the team racing to track down their suspect before they can strike again. The series aired on CBS for 16 seasons and over 300 episodes, then wasrebooted asCriminal Minds: Evolutionin 2022 by streaming service Paramount+.
The fact thatCriminal Mindswas rebooted a mere two years after it went off the air - and how long it lasted in its original run -was a testament to its popularity and quality. The seriesoften featured disturbing casesand had its fair share of shocking plot twists over its 16 seasons, and, as is common with police procedurals, cases sometimes delved into the personal lives of investigators and their loved ones.
Criminal Minds
Criminal Minds follows the elite team of FBI profilers in the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) as they analyze and track down the country’s most dangerous serial killers and criminals. Led by experienced agents like Jason Gideon, Aaron Hotchner, and later David Rossi, the team delves into the minds of the perpetrators, using psychological profiling and investigative techniques to anticipate their next moves. Each episode features intense and often chilling cases, while also exploring the personal lives and challenges faced by the team members.
5’Southland' (2009-2013)
Created by Ann Biderman
Southlandfollowed the police in Los Angeles, featuring an ensemble cast as the officers balanced their personal and professional lives. The series was largely focused around rookie cop Ben Sherman (Ben McKenzie), who was paired with veteran John Cooper (Michael Cudlitz), and Sherman’s reservations about pursuing a career as a cop after seeing Cooper’s tough approach to policing.Southlandwas on the air for five seasons, from 2009 until 2013, and first premiered on NBC but moved to TNT.
Southlandprovided a more raw approach to the police procedural, with an almost documentary-style camera work and flawed characters who presented an alternative to the way police were often portrayed on TV. Cudlitz in particular stood out as Cooper, and while he would later become known for his role as Abraham onThe Walking Dead,Southlandfeatured some of his best work as an actor. Unfortunately, though, the series ended on a cliffhanger.
Southland: Focusing on the lives of LAPD officers and detectives, Southland explores their intense and emotional experiences both on and off the job. The series delves into the challenges they face in maintaining justice and order in Los Angeles while navigating personal dilemmas and moral complexities.
4’The Closer' (2005-2012)
Created by James Duff, Michael M. Robin, and Greer Shephard
CIA-trained interrogator Brenda Johnson (Kyra Sedgwick) relocated from Atlanta to Los Angeles to run the LAPD’s Priority Homicide Division, which handled high-profile cases, inThe Closer. Brenda’s reputation for not only solving cases but getting suspects to confess earned her a reputation as a “closer,” giving the series its name. In addition to the cases, the series also delved into the personal lives of the LAPD, especially Brenda herself. It ran on TNT for seven seasons, with just over 100 episodes.
The Closerwas both critically acclaimed and beloved by audiences. In addition to the case of the week typical of police procedurals,the series also explored larger issues within the department. Sedgwick was great to watch asthe tough, yet charming and likable Brenda, and she was the heart of the show. But her colleagues were just as enjoyable, as they each brought their own distinct personalities to Priority Homicide and its cases.
The Closer
3’CSI' (2000-2016)
Created by Anthony E. Zuiker
CSIfollowed a group of Las Vegas investigators working the night shift as they used forensic science to solve crimes, initially under the supervision of Gil Grissom (William Petersen). The series spawned an entire franchise, consisting of three spin-off shows, each set in a different city and with one focused on cyber crimes.CSIlasted 15 seasons, with over 300 episodes.The series was rebootedin 2021 asCSI: Vegas, withsome of its original castreturning.
CSItook a look at police procedurals from the perspective of forensic science used to find evidence at the scene of a crime, as opposed to the detectives working the case.CSIwas among the most interesting police procedurals, thanks tothe vast number of casesit featured and the fact that they were often gruesome or raised more questions than answers. The show’s success led to it being one of the longest-running shows of all time.
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Watch on Paramount+
2’NCIS' (2003-Present)
Created by Donald B. Bellisario and Don McGill
NCISfollows the team of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, dedicated to solving crimes involving America’s Navy. It is now in its 21st season. The show itselfwas a spin-off ofJAGand has now led to a major franchise consisting offour additional spin-offs, with at least two more on the way, including a prequel series set in the early ‘90s titledNCIS: Origins, and the franchise as a whole is approaching its milestone 1,000th episode.
With over 20 seasons behind it,NCISis one of the longest-running shows of all time, thanks to its popularity—the show is themost-watched scripted series on network television, and it’s showing no signs of slowing down. Its focus on crimes involving the Navy means the team investigates a variety of different types of crimes, although the show frequently features homicides, and the team sometimes has direct ties to a case.
Watch on CBS
1’The Wire' (2002-2008)
Created by David Simon
The HBO seriesThe Wiretook a look at the narcotic scene in Baltimore, from the perspectives of both drug dealers and law enforcement. It also explored government and bureaucracy, unions, public education, the media and more, notably how they were all connected.Dominic Weststarred as James “Jimmy" McNulty, a detective working to take down kingpin Avon Barksdale (Wood Harris).The show lasted five seasons, with 60 episodes, spanning from 2002 until 2008.
The Wirehas been hailed as not only one of the greatest shows of the 2000s, but of all time, and, of course, one of the bestHBO has ever released. It’s also been credited with helping revive the police-procedural genre. In some ways, it wasn’t a police procedural at all - or rather, an anti-cop show, not just because it didn’t follow the genre’s familiar format; it took a look at corruption and other flaws within the justice system.
