Goofs

In the episodes where the blood is spattered or in a large pool, the pattern of the blood varies from scene to scene. For example: A person is killed and the blood is sprayed across a desk. The pattern in scene 1 (finding the body) will be different than in scene 2 (going back to the crime scene for further evidence).

"The CSI Effect": Numerous times, autopsies are conducted by people who were wearing the same clothes they wore in the field. Not only does this promote cross-contamination, but it is also highly unsanitary as well as an OSHA violation.

"The CSI Effect": The investigation team routinely photographs the crime scene before allowing evidence to be touched or moved. Many times, however, a piece of evidence is picked up and handled before being photographed.

"The CSI Effect": CSIs are not detectives as this is exceedingly rare in real life, as they are actually classed as civilian employees. It is considered an inappropriate and improbable practice to allow CSI personnel to be involved in detective work as it would compromise the impartiality of scientific evidence and would be impracticably time-consuming.

"The CSI Effect": We see the main characters collecting evidence at crime scenes as Crime Scene Investigators and then examining the same evidence in the Crime Lab, working as lab technicians. This would not be allowed to happen in real life as it would lead to cross-contamination (forensic material being transferred from one to another via the hands and clothing of a third party).

We see the CSIs constantly ask the detectives working with them to put out APBs (All Points Bulletins) or BOLOs (Be On the Look Out) to bring suspects and witnesses in. When found NYPD just walk up to people and place them in the squad car, taking them to the station for the CSIs to interview, even though it's pretty clear they didn't want to come. If there is no probable cause for an arrest or an active arrest warrant, the police can't make you go anywhere against your will. Once in a while, a wealthy or educated person will assert this and ask a lawyer to be present but this is rare.

CSIs (Crime Scene Investigators) are actually called Forensic Technicians who work in teams called CSUs (Crime Scene Units) in the City of New York. However, this is most likely a deliberate change to better tie in the series as existing in the same universe as CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000) and CSI: Miami (2002).

Throughout the series it is clear that the show is not filmed in New York as the same set is used for all the streets.

Many times during different episodes you can see people that are supposed to be dead breathing or moving.

The same line pattern (which looks like an off-center 5-pointed arch) is consistently used when the CSIs try to search for a fingerprint match in AFIS.