The format of police procedural TV series is engaging and continuously interesting because of their episodic intrigue with multiple mind-boggling cases and tough, world-weary police officers who investigate heinous crimes. Crime TV shows with short episodes are addictive and binge-worthy, with uncomplicated storylines and a different mystery in each episode.
From American show like Law and Order to British show like Broadchurch, police procedurals TV series have massive fandoms and a huge audience. These shows incorporate serious crime investigation and technical and medical expertise, which adds more interest to the audience.
So, if you like crime and a knowledgeable investigation that keeps you on the edge of one’s seat, you are at the right place. Check out this list of 18 best police procedural TV series to watch.
The Mentalist
Stream on: Amazon Prime Video
Brooklyn Nine Nine
Stream on: Netflix
Criminal Minds
Stream on: Amazon Prime Video, Disney +
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
A team of investigators with LAPD headed by Dr. Gil Grissom, a forensic expert, and criminal profiler, with his second in command, Catherine Willows, a driven woman born with the instincts of a cop and is an expert at blood spatter analysis. Their job is to collect physical evidence linked to the case and help solve the crime. The TV series stars William Peterson, Marg Helgenberger, and Gary Dourdan.
Stream on: Amazon Prime Video
Broadchurch
Stream on: Prime Video, Apple TV
Law and Order
Law and Order is one of the best police procedural TV series that has aired 22 seasons since 1990 and is still currently running. The show’s format is divided into two parts. In the first part, they conduct an investigation of apprehending the criminal, and in the later part, the prosecution of the case in court. The TV series stars Dick Wolf, Matthew Penn, and Ed Sherin.
Stream on: NBC, Amazon Prime Video
Blue Bloods
Eliminating crime is a family business for the Reagan family, where Frank, the father, is the police commissioner, and his two sons are part of the police force and law. The show has 13 seasons, with a 14th coming in February 2024, and follows a family who deals with problems both at home and outside. The TV series stars Tom Selleck, Will Estes, and Donnie Wahlberg.
Stream on: CBS, Amazon Prime Video
True Detective
True Detectives is an anthology detective TV series where every season revolves around a single case and the detectives linked to it. The series has 3 seasons: the first focuses on occult-related murders, the second is around finding perpetrators of political murder, and the last is a terrifying mystery behind two missing children cases. The TV series stars Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson, and Rachel McAdams.
Stream on: Amazon Prime Video
Rizzoli and Isles
Jane Rizzoli, a detective in Boston Homicide Police, and Maura, a chief medical examiner, come together to solve cases with their individual expertise and experience. With seven seasons, the show is based on a novel series by Tess Gerritsen. The TV series stars Angie Harmon, Sasha Alexander, and Jordan Bridges.
Stream on: Amazon Prime Video
NCIS
Cases related to the Navy and marine are investigated by agents of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. The show is the third longest-running TV series in the US, with 21 seasons under its belt. This police procedural show follows cases that involve members of the Marine Corps and the US Navy or their families in relation to murder, treason, etc. The TV series stars Mark Harmon, Sasha Alexander, and Michael Weatherly.
Stream on: Amazon Prime Video
Luther
Luther won Idris Elba a Golden Globe Award for playing the titular character Luther in 2012. A fascinating crime drama, the TV series follows Luther, a man who has a special ability to infiltrate people’s minds which he uses on his criminals to find out the truth but it has its side effects too, as it puts him in bad space with his team and also brings out some past demons. The TV series stars Idris Elba, Ruth Wilson, and Warren Brown.
Stream on: Amazon Prime Video
The Rookie
John Nolan is looking for a new start at the age of 40 after a divorce and new move to Los Angeles by signing up to become a police officer after he helped take down robbers in his hometown. Faced with skepticism and a gap with his colleagues, he must endeavor to overcome these challenges as well as prove himself by solving crimes. The TV series stars Nathan Fillion, Eric Winter and Alyssa Diaz.
Stream on: Hulu
Hawaii Five-O
In Hawaii, a special task force is organized by the governor to look over crimes around the gorgeous beaches of Hawaii. With 10 seasons, the show follows a small team of agents headed by Steve McGarrett who are only answerable to the Governor and investigate crimes ranging from robberies to terrorism. The TV series stars Alex O’Loughlin, Scott Caan, and Daniel Day Kim.
Stream on: Paramount +, Apple TV
Castle
Kate Beckett, a homicide detective in New York City, is asked to partner up with Richard Castle, a novelist who has written best-selling mystery stories. Miffed by this pairing, Kate is skeptical of Richard’s contribution to any investigation they conduct, but when he comes overboard to find clues centered around her mother’s death, she starts to look at him in a new light. The TV series stars Nathan Fillion, Stana Katic, and Susan Sullivan.
Stream on: Hulu
Elementary
For fans of Sherlock, Elementary is one of the best adaptations to watch. Sherlock is recovering from a drug addiction and is assigned a surgeon called Dr. Joan Watson to help in his rehabilitation. Sherlock works with the police of New York City on various crimes while also facing his old and new nemesis, Jamie Moriarty. The TV series stars Jonny Lee Miller, Lucy Liu, and Jon Michael Hill.
Stream on: Hulu
Chicago P.D.
Chicago PD has two departments: uniformed patrol officers and an elite intelligence unit. These two departments work together to eliminate crime from the 21st district of Chicago while also battling healthy competition with each other. Headed by Detective Sergeant Hank Voight, the TV series has 10 seasons to binge-watch. The TV series stars Jason Beghe, Jon Seda, and Sophia Bush.
Stream on: DirecTV, Apple TV
Bones
FBI agent Seeley Booth seeks help from Temperance Brennan, a bone specialist who works as a forensic anthropologist and uses her knowledge about bone study to investigate cases with decomposed or destroyed bones to solve crimes. The TV series stars David Boreanaz, Emily Deschanel and Michaela Conlin.
Stream on: Hulu
Hannibal
A psychological thriller, the series brings back the famous mind-controlling psychologist Hannibal Lecter. FBI profiler Will Graham starts feeling the stress of the case about a serial killer, and he is asked to see the forensic psychiatrist with the FBI, Hannibal Lecter, who might be able to help. But this collaboration only leads to further corruption of Will’s mind as now he is in the hands of a psychopathic serial killer. The TV series stars Hugh Dancy, Mads Mikkelsen and Caroline Dhavernas.
Stream on: Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video
