Criminal Minds takes place across multiple locations in the U.S., but the primary setting remains the base office of the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) based in Quantico, Virginia. This is the main setting of the show, whether it is agents analyzing case files or strategizing their next move. Here is where they brought Voight and also developed his psychological profile in the latest season. The office remains the heart of the show in terms of story as well as settings.The conferences take place here, while several character-driven scenes, sometimes personal conversations, and emotional moments unfold in the office. Read on to know about where Criminal Minds takes place.Where does Criminal Minds take place?The setting and production design of Criminal Minds is such that it focuses on the psychological results of the cop profession on the characters. This grounds the series and makes it different from a typical crime show. It portrays layered characters engulfed in the demanding profession that takes them across America for cases. Quantico, Virginia, where the FBI academy is based, in the show works because of its proximity to Washington, DC, so it roughly takes 40-45 minutes, depending on the traffic.This has complemented the narrative as Quantico is not a typical residential or urban area. It is mainly known for Marine Corps Base Quantico and the FBI Academy, which includes the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) seen in Criminal Minds. Therefore, it mixes well, portraying a backdrop of a military or federal training town, while it can be assumed that the agents must be living somewhere around Washington, D.C., providing realism to the fictional narrative.Moreover, the FBI's main headquarters is located in D.C.. So if sometimes BAU agents needed to coordinate on intra-agency matters, they would realistically be called there. However, the show never reveals the HQ politics, making Quantico the main location.Field visits shown in Criminal Minds often sent the agents to new locationswhere is criminal minds set? byu/gorillacoochiegrip incriminalmindsAlthough the BAU is based in Quantico, the team rarely stays there for long. Most episodes send the profilers to different cities and towns across the U.S., emphasizing the national reach of violent crime. This way, the show explores diverse regional cultures, and the social environment induces intrigue among the viewers. For them, it gets more uncertain and thrilling with every new location.The crime scenes often feature community-specific environments such as schools, small towns, suburbs, and big cities, alongside adds some contrast. The office of the BAU acts as the weaving point, which blends all the locations while also complementing the narrative.Along with this, the show also reveals glimpses of characters’ homes and Washington, D.C. surroundings, such as cafes, local haunts, and personal hangouts. These quieter settings balance the intensity of the cases and deepen character development when required.Therefore, we can say that the show uses Quantico as the agent's office location, and the story takes the viewers across America investigating cases. Moreover, crime scenes are usually in institutions like restaurants or schools, adding more visual texture to the frame. Interestingly, the show is shot outside Quantico, mainly in California, USA, replicating a Quantico-like setting.