Directed by Jeff T Thomas
Written by Anthony E. Zuiker, Ann Donahue, Carol Mendelsohn & John Dove
"Crossroads" is the 8th episode of Season 8 and the 170th overall. It originally aired November 18, 2011.
The criminal court judge in the trial of a Russian mobster is murdered while he and the jury are visiting the scene of the crime. Mac and Lindsay continue working on the John Curtis case.
Tropes for the episode:
- Disposable Sex Worker: Adam suggests that a murdered sex worker may have had an "unsatisfied customer". Lindsay immediately tells him he has no right to make that kind of judgment.
- Hanging Judge: The judge has a reputation for doling out unusually harsh sentences for petty offenses.
- Jaywalking Will Ruin Your Life: The judge is shown to have sentenced one boy to several years in a juvenile detention facility for stealing a pack of gum.
- Prison Changes People: The young man asks the detectives, "You know what happens to good kids in prison? They turn out bad." Yep, he turned out so bad he kills the judge in revenge and ends up going to prison for life.
- Private Profit Prison: The judge receives kickbacks from the juvenile facility for every defendant he sends there.
- Rage Against the Legal System: The killer takes revenge on the judge for ruining his life.
- Sequel Episode: Continues the storyline of the serial rapist from Jo's past work at the FBI.
- Wardens Are Evil: Warden James Nelson is Corsica's co-conspirator in the kickback scam which resulted in the harsh imprisonment of several youth.
