A comprehensive, yet entertaining, examination of the Law & Order juggernaut.

Over the course of more than 20 years, nearly 500 episodes, and six spinoffs, Law & Order changed the way we view police procedurals, the American justice system, and the men and women of the NYPD. The ubiquity of the show-from its iconic dun-dun sound to its all-star cast of characters and A-list guest stars-has not only made it part of the pop culture zeitgeist but has made society smarter about laws and policing in the United States.

In the first-ever book of its kind, author and pop-culture critic Bernadette Giacomazzo celebrates the show and its creator, Dick Wolf, while providing a conscientious examination of the stories of the criminal justice system and the "two separate, yet equally important groups" that represent the people. Law & Order- A Cultural History follows the series origins from its old New York grit and grime to the twenty-first-century high-tech surveillance in a more sterile Manhattan, highlighting how United States law has evolved and the show along with it and exploring America s fascination with the show that helped give birth to the true crime genre.

Law & Order is more than just a police procedural- It is one of the few shows that effectively tackles the social, political, and economic issues that lead to crime. Moreso than its predecessors such as Dragnet and Hill Street Blues, Law & Order gives a first-hand, inside look at the police who investigate crimes and the district attorneys who prosecute the offenders. In so doing, it removes their mystique and gives them a humanity not seen before. This book finally gives the show and its creator the recognition they deserve for their role in changing the face of both law and order-and true crime television.