The series popularized the foundational steps of processing a crime scene, often referred to as the : Secure the Scene Separate the Witnesses Scan the Scene See the Scene Sketch the Scene Search for Evidence Secure and Collect Evidence

: CSI: Miami (2002), CSI: NY (2004), and CSI: Cyber (2015).

The groundbreaking procedural drama (2000–2015) redefined the television landscape by shifting the focus from "whodunnit" to "howdunnit," emphasizing forensic science over traditional gumshoe detective work. The "CSI Effect"

: The franchise returned with CSI: Vegas in 2021, though CBS recently canceled the series after its third season.

The series spawned a massive media franchise, including several successful spin-offs: