In 1988, Dick Wolf developed a concept for a new television series that would paint a relatively optimistic picture of the American criminal justice system. He first toyed with the idea of calling it Night & Day, but then he came across the title Law & Order. The first half of each episode follows two detectives (a senior detective and a junior detective) and their commander as they investigate a violent crime. The second half of the episode followed the prosecution and the courts, as two prosecutors, with the prosecutor`s counsel themselves, attempted to convict the accused. That way, Law & Order would be able to examine some of the biggest issues of the day by focusing on stories based on real cases that make headlines. If detectives know the identity of the victim, they will inform their relatives of the victim`s death and try to get more information about the victim`s life and potential suspects. Detectives continue their investigation by interviewing witnesses and potential suspects while tracking the victim`s last known movements and mental state (talking to the victim`s family, friends and colleagues). Sometimes they have someone they suspect of the crime, and in examining their alibi, they will follow the last known movements and state of mind of the current suspect by talking to the people in the person`s life until they are excluded or sure of the guilt of the person they suspect. In subsequent seasons, CCTV, GPS and mobile phone tracking can be used to track the movements of suspects and victims through the police`s Technical Assistance Response Unit (TARU). They can even ask victims and witnesses to look at the photos in the cupbooks or see the police queues where they will try to identify the suspects. If gang or drug links are suspected, police can talk to other police units that specialize in this type of crime.

You can even contact criminal informants to see if they`ve heard about the crime itself on the street. At the beginning of the trial, the E.A.D.A. and senior defense counsel will make opening remarks to the jury and then take turns making their case. They hear witnesses directly and cross-examine them, ask them questions that support their case, or sow doubt in the case of their rival. Some of those questioned by police during the first half, such as witnesses, former suspects and family members of the accused and victims, will return to the witness stand to testify on both sides, depending on which party subpoenaed them. In addition, medical examination assistants, forensic laboratory technicians (including fingerprint analysts, DNA profilers and ballistics analysts) and psychologists or psychiatrists (if the accused uses an admission of insanity) testify professionally. They will also object if the other goes beyond the scope of what the law allows, for example: „Directing/harassing the witness”, „accepting facts, not as evidence”, etc., which the judge will confirm (admit) or annul (dismiss). The judge could even ask them to approach the chamber or ask both parties to meet in their chamber to present other arguments outside of a jury. The ADA is usually introduced into a charge scene where defendants plead (usually not guilty) and a judge decides when and where they will be tried and whether they will receive bail (either on their own word or released on bail) or whether they will be detained in the meantime. The A.D.A. could appear earlier in the episode during the police segment to arrange an exchange of information or decide whether detectives have enough evidence for search or arrest warrants before arresting suspects.

Although the pilot was appreciated by the network, it was not ordered because there were no rupture stars. In 1989, the show was broadcast by NBC executives Warren Littlefield and Brandon Tartikoff. They liked it, but feared that it would not be possible to repeat the intensity of the show after a few weeks. In 1990, however, the show made NBC executives confident enough to be innovative and appealing to a wide audience. This prompted her to commission the show for an entire season. We`ve all heard the terms, but what`s behind the gold or platinum status of this song or album? Here are the numbers. On September 28, 2021, NBC announced that it had ordered a 21st season. The new season was announced after plans for a new Law & Order spin-off, Law & Order: For the Defense, fell through this summer. On November 1, 2021, it was announced that Jeffrey Donovan would be a regular on the show`s 21st anniversary.

Sam Waterston and Anthony Anderson were in talks to return.