In the city of Las Vegas, Nevada, its reputation for providing instant success for those willing to try their luck draws in the hopeful and the naive. This constant influx of visitors also provides ripe targets for criminals of all varieties, confident they will never be caught. Unfortunately for them, most are proven wrong by the Las Vegas Police Department's night shift Crime Scene Investigations unit led by ex-stripper and single parent Catherine Willows. With almost obsessive dedication towards her quest for the facts, she and her elite team of investigators work various perplexing cases using scientific skills and equipment that are capable of finding valuable clues from the most seemingly unlikely sources. Her team includes second-in-command Nick Stokes, who was Texas-born and -bred; Sara Sidle, who recently returned from a leave of absence; Greg Sanders, a former DNA Tech, and Morgan Brody, daughter of the under-sheriff and new transfer from Los Angeles, California. Assisting them are Jim Brass, an experienced LVPD Captain; Al Robbins and David Phillips, the Chief ME and his assistant; and David Hodges, a trace technician who hates field work.
Over the years, CSI has dealt with death, including Warrick Brown, as well as losing team leader Gil Grissom; DNA guru Wendy Simms; CSI Riley Adams, who did not want to work under Willows; Raymond Langston, a junior team member and former medical examiner; and Sofia Curtis, who was promoted to Deputy Chief.
Inspired by the top-rated series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CSI: Miami follows a South Florida team of forensic investigators/police officers who use both cutting-edge scientific methods and old-fashioned police work to solve crimes. Horatio Caine heads the team of investigators while working crimes in the steamy tropical surroundings and cultural crossroads of Miami. Horatio, his second in command Calleigh Duquesne, and their team probes cases similar to those of their Las Vegas counterparts, but the Miami CSI team are also police officers as well as forensic investigators.
A spin-off from CSI: Miami, the third edition to the CSI franchise follows a New York City forensics team/police officers headed by tough former Marine Major, Det. Mac Taylor, and his newest partner, Det. Jo Danville, an experienced investigator from Washington, D.C., whose work is driven by her empathy for the victim. Against a backdrop of simmering ethnic and cultural tensions, Taylor probes cases similar to their Las Vegas and Miami counterparts, along with his team of Detectives, consisting of Det. Danny Messer, Det. Lindsay Monroe, and Dr. Sheldon Hawkes. The CSIs work alongside Medical Examiner Sid Hammerback, lab technician Adam Ross, and hardcore homicide Det. Don Flack. Former team members include the late Det. Aiden Burn; Mac's former second-in-command, Det. Stella Bonasera; and the late homicide Det. Jessica Angell, who was Flack's girlfriend.
