The Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) is a department of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime (NCAVC) that uses behavioral analysts to assist in criminal investigations.

Is the BAU a real department?

Does the BAU exist in real life? Inside FBI headquarters there is a Behavioral Analysis Unit. The unit is, in fact, made up of the FBI's best and brightest stars, and those agents really do spend their days analyzing evidence to create a psychological picture of perpetrators.

Is the BAU like Criminal Minds?

The BAU does exist in real life, but the profilers seen in the thrilling weekly drama series have no real-life counterparts. Also, the cases on "Criminal Minds" tend to be solved rather quickly (usually within a few weeks), but real-life criminal investigations tend to take months, if not years, to reach fruition.