Chairman Meow

Miami, We Have a Problem - S8-E15

Factual error: Ryan is stated to have a BS in organic chemistry, working on his Masters in Genetics when we first meet him. When Travers tells him the shuttle was leaking oxygen, Ryan corrects him and says "air", to which Travers has to correct him. ANY gen chem student learns that "air" is a mixture of oxygen, nitrogen, water, and a few other trace gases such as helium and methane. This is a pretty big blunder for someone who supposedly holds advanced degrees in Organic Chemistry and Genetics.

Chairman Meow

Delko for the Defense - S8-E11

Other mistake: Horatio: "Eric, the forensics expert cannot get cold feet." There was absolutely no reason for Eric to be nervous. IF he'd been a CSI all this time, he would be in court testifying about his evidence on a regular basis. CSIs ARE the forensics experts.

Chairman Meow

Show generally

Factual error: CSIs in real life are not police detectives, nor are they beat cops. Crime Scene Investigators are just that: they're regular people, some with 4-year-bachelor's° in STEM fields, others completing Criminology Associate's degrees, who are ONLY responsible for investigating and gathering evidence at crime scenes and then serving as expert witnesses in court. In fact, they spend more time in court testifying of the evidence they collected than anywhere else. They don't interrogate suspects, nor do they chase them down and arrest them.

Chairman Meow

Tunnel Vision - S6-E18

Factual error: In Natalia Boa Vista's backstory, she states she knew Horatio from her "work with the FBI." But not all FBI agents started as LEOs (law enforcement officers). In her whole time as a CSI, she wields a badge, makes arrests, and interrogates suspects just like a cop (the ONLY 3 characters we know for certain that were LEOs were Calleigh [the flashback episode with Horatio and Jesse], Eric [the flashback episode when Horatio tells Eric to "come see me when you finish the academy"], and Ryan Wolfe, who's fresh off beat patrol when he joins CSIs). In this episode she tells Calleigh she's late to her crime scene because she just picked up her new sidearm and "now I can back you up on crime scenes!" BUT, if she were already a cop she would have been issued a firearm upon graduation. Thus, Natalia (and Walter) were never cops. This show took severe liberties with reality. Real CSIs are no more than expert witnesses, NEVER given the responsibility of arresting or interrogating suspects.

Chairman Meow