What is the CBI in the Mentalist?
The CBI in the mentalist stands for California Bureau of Investigation, initially I thought this was a regional office of the FBI, but it doesn't seem to be (no FBI-labelled jackets/body-armour etc...), it also seems only to be state-wide (California) and fairly small.
Is it a made-up/based-on police agency with state-wide powers or is there a CBI?
Apologies for any incorrect assumptions, I'm from the UK, not the US.
Best Answer
This group is based off an existing one that works in California. The current name for the group is the Bureau of Investigation (BI). CBI was its former name that is used by the show. This is not the only group of its kind, I know my home state of North Carolina has a similar group (State Bureau of Investigation) whose purpose is similar to that of the FBI but on the State level.
Like the US government system the police system breaks out into many levels to ensure co-operation between states or local government. I believe the current police structure is: Local PD, County Sheriff, State Investigators (SBI, BI, etc), Federal Investigators (FBI).
I received my facts about the CBI from the article below.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Bureau_of_Investigation
Pictures about "What is the CBI in the Mentalist?"
Is the CBI from The Mentalist real?
A fictional version of CBI was featured in the television series The Mentalist. It featured several units, with the one featuring the main characters focusing mostly on the investigation of homicides, and occasionally kidnappings or missing persons.Who is the mole in CBI The Mentalist?
The investigation into who killed Johnson was the main plot line throughout season 3. In the season finale, Strawberries and Cream, it was revealed that his killer was Craig O'Laughlin, Red John's mole in the CBI and FBI.Is LaRoche Red John?
She admits that James was her cousin who had been sending her money. Jane wants forty-eight hours to find Red John before Hightower turns herself in. Jane comes clean with the team - "Tyger, Tyger" references, the list of suspects, and how one of the suspects, including LaRoche, is Red John's mole.What happens to CBI in The Mentalist?
In 2013, during the final stages for the hunt for Red John, Supervisory Special Agent Dennis Abbott permanently closed down the CBI as a result of The Blake Association.The Mentalist 6x07- FBI close down the CBI
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