It is recorded in the studios of WUNC in Chapel Hill, NC, and is part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.

[2] Lauren Spohrer, Phoebe Judge, and Eric Mennel met while working on The Story with Dick Gordon at WUNC.

[1] For example, the show has covered a mother-daughter coroner team and an African-American man who was wrongfully shot by police in front of his mother and father.

[9] Then two will work on a rough draft, before presenting it to a third for input, so that, according to Judge, that person "can be a fresh set of ears.

[13] Contrasting the program with the podcast Serial, Jason Loviglio of RadioDoc Review said that "cofounders and producers Lauren Spohrer and Phoebe Judge (and recently hired producer Nadia Wilson) ... [have] moved beyond mere crime journalism to something that aspires to a bit more philosophical heft", adding, "Original artwork by Julienne Alexander adds distinctive nuance.

In its selection of "The 50 Best Podcasts of 2016", The Atlantic wrote, "Criminal's ethos sets the true-crime bar high.

[24] Criminal's first live show was held at the Motorco in Durham, North Carolina, a venue which is within walking distance of Judge's home at the time.