"In the criminal justice system, the people are represented by two separate yet equally important groups. The police who investigate crime and the district attorneys who prosecute the offenders. These are their stories."

Law & Order, the longest-running crime series and the second longest-running drama series in the history of television, enters its 18th season beginning in January of 2008.

The brainchild of creator Dick Wolf, Law & Order is the most successful brand in primetime television as the 1997 Emmy Award winner for Outstanding Drama Series and the record holder for the most consecutive (11) nominations for a drama series. It has also turned into one of entertainment’s preeminent brands, with its successful spinoffs Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Law & Order: Criminal Intent. There were another two spin-offs as well, Law & Order: Trial by Jury and the real life Law & Order show, Crime & Punishment.

Filmed entirely on location in New York City, this realistic program looks at crime and justice from a dual perspective. In the first half-hour, Detectives Ed Green (Jesse L. Martin, Rent) and his partner Detective Cyrus Lupo, played by series newcomer (Jeremy Sisto, Kidnapped), investigate crimes and apprehend suspects under the supervision of their precinct lieutenant, Anita Van Buren (S. Epatha Merkerson). In the second half-hour, the focus shifts to the criminal courts, as Executive Assistant District Attorney Michael Cutter, played by series newcomer (Linus Roache, Kidnapped), and Assistant District Attorney Connie Rubirosa (Alana De La Garza) work within a complicated justice system to prosecute the accused under the guidance of newly appointed District Attorney Jack McCoy (Sam Waterston).

Some cases may be simple, but most are multi-faceted. The investigations are challenging, prosecutions are complicated, and decisions about legal procedures and plea-bargaining are vexing. In the arduous and complex process of determining guilt and innocence, lives often hang in the balance.

Spinoffs:
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999- )
--Conviction ("Law & Order" Universe, has Stephanie March from SVU) (2005)
Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001- )
Law & Order: Trial by Jury (2004)
Law & Order: London (2008- )
Crime & Punishment (The Real Life "Law & Order") (2002-2004)

Similar Shows:
Homicide: Life on the Street (Same Universe as "Law & Order", Detective John Munch comes from this show.) (1993-1999)