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American law allows for the 'false deception ploy' where the police can claim to have evidence (fingerprints, DNA, CCTV, witnesses) they do not in order to gain a confession, the idea being that any innocent person would know such evidence could not exist and see through it. This has become increasingly controversial however due to cases such as the Central Park 5 rape case where the suspects were told their co-defendants were saying they were responsible so they accused them in turn only to be exonerated years later.

The episode Prescription for Death (1990) appears to be based on the 1984 death of Libby Zion, the real-life malpractice lawsuits and other scandals against doctors with alcohol and drug addictions and the term "impaired physician".

The episode Subterranean Homeboy Blues (1990) appears to be based on the 1984 Bernhard Goetz (a.k.a. "The Subway Vigilante") case, the 1976 Michael Carmen case and the involvement of American crime watch group Crime Stoppers through crime playout reenactment as well as partially ripped from the 1981 American exploitation film Ms .45 (1981).

The episode The Reaper's Helper (1990) appears to be based on the 1989 Marty James case, the 1990's Jack Kevorkian (a.k.a. "Dr. Death") case as well as the epidemic of assisted suicides of gay/bi men infected with HIV during the early 1980's AIDS epidemic in the United States.

The episode Kiss the Girls and Make Them Die (1990) appears to be based on the 1986 Robert Chambers (a.k.a. "The Preppie Killer") case.

The episode Happily Ever After (1990) appears to be based on the 1989 Charles "Chuck" Stuart case, the 1927 Ruth Snyder case and the pages of the 1943 novel Double Indemnity and its film adaptation (Double Indemnity (1944)).

The episode Everybody's Favorite Bagman (1990) appears to be loosely based on the 1986 New York Parking Violations Bureau corruption scandal, a supporting character is based on journalist Jimmy Breslin and Operation Abscam and the related involvement of career criminal and informant Mel Weinberg.

The episode By Hooker, by Crook (1990) appears to be based on the 1984 Sydney Barrows (a.k.a. "The Mayflower Madam") case.

The episode Poison Ivy (1990) appears to be based on both the 1985 shooting death of Edmund Perry by officer Lee Van Houten, the 1973 fatal shooting of Clifford Glover by Thomas Shea, an on-duty, undercover policeman, the 1975 Shooting of Bernard Whitehurst by Donald Foster and the 1986 Mark Davidson case.

The episode Indifference (1990) is based on the 1987 murder of Lisa Steinberg by her adapted father Joel Steinberg.

The episode Prisoner of Love (1990) appears to be based on the 1984 Andrew Crispo (a.k.a. "The Death Mask Murder") case, the 1968 death of Albert Dekker, the 1978 death of Bob Crane and the life of photographer Robert Mapplethorpe.

The episode Out of the Half-Light (1990) appears to be based on the 1987 Tawana Brawley rape allegation case.

The episode Life Choice (1991) appears to be based on anti-abortion violence in the U.S., the 1987 Family Planning Associates attempted bombing, involving anti-abortion activist Cheryl Sullenger and the 1986 Nezar al-Hindawi case.

The episode A Death in the Family (1991) appears to be partially based on the 1991 Larry Davis case.

The episode The Violence of Summer (1991) appears to be based on both the 1989 Trisha Meili (a.k.a. "The Central Park Jogger") case (also referred to as the Central Park Five case) and the 1967 Maggie de la Riva rape case.

The episodes The Torrents of Greed: Part 1 (1991)/The Torrents of Greed: Part 2 (1991) appear to be both based on the 1975 disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa and the 1985 assassination of Paul Castellano. Whilst the mob boss featured in the episode and the crimes he's accused of share similarities with those of the John Gotti crime syndicate (who were responsible for Paul Castellano's assassination).

The episode Mushrooms (1991) was inspired by real-life cases of young children hit by stray bullets, which was fairly common at that time in many larger U.S. cities, such as New York and Los Angeles.

The episode The Secret Sharers (1991) appears to be loosely based on the 1980 Daingerfield church shooting, whilst the character of Chet Burton is based on famed Texas defense attorneys Percy Foreman, Dick DeGuerin, and Richard 'Racehorse' Haynes.

The episode The Serpent's Tooth (1991) appears to be partially based on the 1989 Lyle and Erik Menendez brothers case.

The episode The Troubles (1991) appears to be based on the 1991 Joe Doherty case.

The episode Sonata for Solo Organ (1991) was inspired by the "Kidney Thief" urban legend, which tells the story of someone who wakes up in a bathtub of ice with only one kidney after being surgically removed for transplantation.

The episode The Blue Wall (1991) appears to be based on the 1988 Joe Sánchez (a.k.a. "The Blue Code of Silence") case.

The episode Confession (1991) appears to be based on the 1983 Oreste Fulminante case.

The episode The Wages of Love (1991) appears to be based on the 1989 Elisabeth Broderick case.

The episode Aria (1991) appears to be based on the 1962 death of actress Marilyn Monroe.

The episode Asylum (1991) appears to be based on the 1987 David Mooney case.

The episode God Bless the Child (1991) appears to be based on the 1989 Alex Dale Morris faith healing case.

The episode Misconception (1991) appears to be inspired by cases of fetal homicide, including the 1991 Maria Flores fetal homicide case.

The episode In Memory Of (1991) appears to be based on the controversial recovered-memory therapy cases including the 1990-91 George Franklin case.

The episode Out of Control (1991) appears to be based on an actual rape case at St. John's University in Collegeville, Jamaica, New York in 1990.

The episode Renunciation (1991) appears to be based on the 1990 Pamela Smart case.

The episode Heaven (1991) appears to be based on the 1990 Happy Land Social Club Fire caused by Cuban refugee Julio Gonzalez.

The episode His Hour Upon the Stage (1991) appears to be based on the 1983 Roy Radin murder case.

The episode Star Struck (1992) appears to be based on three separate high-profile stalking cases involving actresses Rebecca Schaeffer, Theresa Saldana & Andrea Evans.

The episode Severance (1992) appears to be based on the 1982 CBS Murders case.

The episode Trust (1992) appears to be based on the 1986 Rod Matthews case.

The episode Vengeance (1992) appears to be based on the 1962-1964 Albert DeSalvo (a.k.a. "The Boston Strangler") case, The 1966 Richard Speck case and The 1950's Harvey Glatman (aka "The Lonely Hearts Killer"/"The Glamour Girl Slayer") case.

The episode Sisters of Mercy (1992) appears to be based on the Covenant House sexual abuse and financial impropriety scandal of 1990, involving Bruce Ritter.

The episode Cradle to Grave (1992) appears to be based on the 1990 Brittany Eichelberger baby abandonment incident. Whilst the main character of Iris Corman appears to be based on Leona Helmsley (a.k.a. "The Queen of Mean") a notorious New York City property owner who committed tax evasion in 1982.

The episode The Fertile Fields (1992) appears to be partially based on the 1991 Brooklyn Crown Heights riot.

The episode Intolerance (1992) appears to be based on the 1991 Wanda Holloway case.

The episode The Working Stiff (1992) appears to be based on the "Keating Five" scandal and the subsequent savings and loan crisis, The Michael Milken securities and tax-related felonies case, The Ivan Boesky insider trading scandal and The Bank of Credit and Commerce International money laundering scandal. As well as being inspired by the lives of American Financer Asher Edelman and American businessman Carl Icahn.

The episode Skin Deep (1992) appears to be based on both the 1991 John Valverde case and the 1990 Jack Cone modeling scam case.

The episode Conspiracy (1992) appears to be based on a number of high-profile assassinations over the years, including: Dr. Martin Luther King Malcolm X (born Malcolm Little), John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, John Lennon and Huey Long.

The episode Forgiveness (1992) appears to be based on the 1977 Bonnie Garland murder case.

The episode Wedded Bliss (1992) appears to be based on the crackdown of illegal sweatshops in the U.S.

The episode Helpless (1992) appears to be based on three different cases of doctors raping there patients: Young Soo Koo, Ivan C. Namihas & Kimble McNair.

The episode Self Defense (1992) appears to be based on the 1984 Bernhard Goetz (a.k.a. "The Subway Vigilante") case.

The episode Extended Family (1993) appears to be based on the 1992 Faye Yager case and the 1992 Woody Allen sexual abuse accusation case.

The episode Night & Fog (1993) the 1986 John Demjanjuk (a.k.a. "Ivan the Terrible") war crimes case.

The episode Jurisdiction (1993) appears to be based on the United States territorial jurisdiction law as well as the 1966 Richard Speck case and the 1963 murders of Emily Hoffert and Janice Wylie (a.k.a. The "Career Girls Murders") case.

The episode Conduct Unbecoming (1993) appears to be based on the 1991 Tailhook Association scandal.

This episode Securitate (1993) appears to be partially based on the large crime rate in Romania.

The episode Manhood (1993) appears to be based on the 1991 murder of Paul Broussard as well as several other cases of homophobic hate crimes in the United States and the Good Samaritan and duty to rescue laws regarding civil servants.

The episode Sweeps (1993) appears to be based on the November 3, 1988, episode of The Geraldo Rivera Show (1987), which involved a fight breaking out between white supremacists, anti-racist skinheads, black and Jewish activists. As well as the 1984 vigilante killing of Jeff Doucet by Gary Plauche. The episode also foreshadows events involving talk show guests being involved in murders shortly after they had appeared on said talk shows. These included the deaths of Scott Amedure (Jenny Jones (1991)); of Charlene Burkey (Forgive or Forget (1998), hosted by Robin Givens); and of Nancy Campbell-Panitz (The Jerry Springer Show (1991)).

The episode Volunteers (1993) appears to be based on the Larry Hogue (a.k.a. "The Wild Man of 96th Street") case.

The episode Discord (1993) appears to be based on the Mike Tyson rape accusation by Desiree Washington.

The episode Profile (1993) appears to be based three separate incidents including the 1980 Joseph Christopher (a.k.a. "The .22-Caliber Killer") case, the Joseph Paul Franklin (a.k.a. "The Racist Killer") case, The 1993 James Swann (a.k.a. "The Shotgun Stalker") case and the controversial case of Michael Lowe a Ku Klux Klan member being defended by Anthony P. Griffin, a black lawyer.

The episode Black Tie (1993) appears to be based on the 1980 Martha Sunny von Bulow attempted murder case by Claus von Bülow.

The episode Apocrypha (1993) appears to be based on the following incidents: The 1978 Jonestown mass-murder suicide by cult leader Charles Manson and the subsequent investigation by Timothy Stoen, the 1993 Branch Davidian siege near Waco Texas led by David Koresh and the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.

The episode American Dream (1993) appears to be based on the 1984 Ron Levin murder case.

The episode Born Bad (1993) appears to be based on the following cases/incidents: the 1993 Eric Smith case, the 1989 Craig Price case, the 1976-1977 Gary Gilmore case, the 1968 Mary Bell case, the 1993 appeals waiver of Westley Allan Dodd, the story of Beth Thomas, who became the subject of the documentary Child of Rage (1990), the debunked XYY syndrome thesis and resulting hysteria allegedly equating the diagnosis to male violent tendencies and the controversial debate on the impact of genetic predisposition versus environmental upbringing on the nature of violence.

The episode Golden Years (1994) appears to be based on the 1991 murder of Mary Bowe by her granddaughter Tracey Bowe.

The episode Snatched (1994) appears to be based on the 1975 Samuel Bronfman II kidnapping hoax.

The episode Censure (1994) appears to be based on the 1988 Sol Wachtler affair with Joy Silverman and the following fallout of it.

The episode Big Bang (1994) appears to have been based on the 1978-1995 serial bombings committed by the then-uncaught Ted Kaczynski (a.k.a. "The Unabomber").

The episode Mayhem (1994) features 4 separate police investigations with 3 of them based on actual cases including: The 1907 Bertha Boronda case, The 1993 Lorena Bobbitt incident where she cut of her husbands penis, the 1976 David Berkowitz (a.k.a. "The Son of Sam") case and the 1960's Zodiac Killer case and the suspicion placed on Arthur Leigh Allen.

The episode Wager (1994) appears to be loosely based on the 1993 James Raymond Jordan, Sr. murder case.

The episode Sanctuary (1994) appears to be based on two separate incidents of rioting, the 1991 Brooklyn Crown Heights riot and the 1992 Los Angeles riots. The episode is also based on the attacks on Reginald Denny and on Fidel Lopez during the Los Angeles riots as well as well as having 3 supporting characters who are based on real people including civil rights activist Reverend Al Sharpton, murderer Lemrick Nelson and rioter Damian Williams.

The episode Nurture (1994) appears to be based on the 1992 Katie Beers kidnapping case.

The episode Doubles (1994) appears to be based on both the 1994 assault on Olympic figure skater Nancy Kerrigan by her rival Tonya Harding and the 1993 stabbing attack on tennis player Monica Seles by Günter Parche, a deranged fan of her rival Steffi Graf.

The episode Second Opinion (1994) appeears to be based on the controversy surrounding the use of laetrile to treat cancer and the death of 1994 Gloria Ramirez (a.k.a. "the Toxic Lady" or "the Toxic Woman") which involved several hospital workers became ill after exposure to her body and blood.

The episode Blue Bamboo (1994) appears to be inspired by the Japanese use of comfort women during World War II.

The episode Family Values (1994) appears to be based on the 1992 Amy Fisher (a.k.a. The Long Island Lolita) case, the 1994 murder of Anne Scripps at the hands of Scott Douglas, the 1943 Wayne Lonergan case and the related 1946 novel The Big Clock and 1955 novel Lolita.

The episode White Rabbit (1994) appears to be based on the 1976 Sara Jane Olson/Kathleen Soliah case, the 1970 Katherine Ann Power case, the Weathermen underground anti-war movement and the 1981 Brink's robbery.

The episode Competence (1994) appears to be based on the 1984 murder of Eleanor Bumpurs and the 1985 Edmund Perry case.

The episode Precious (1994) appears to be based on the 1994 Joseph Bales/Helene Lemay case as well as including elements from several cases of "Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy", but mostly resembles that of the 1965-1971 Waneta Hoyt case and the 1985 Marybeth Tinning case, as well as the debate over compulsory sterilization in the United States.

The episode Virtue (1994) appears to be inspired by the 1991 Anita Hill-Clarence Thomas controversy.

The episode Scoundrels (1994) appears to be based on the following events: the Lincoln Savings and Loan Scandal involving its chairman Charles Keating and the insider trading scandal involving Ivan Boesky.

The episode House Counsel (1995) appears to be based on the Bruce Cutler case, Cutler was the defense Council for mob boss John Gotti.

The episode Progeny (1995) appears to be based on the 1994 Paul Jennings Hill case.

The episode Rage (1995) appears to be based on the 1993 Long Island Rail Road shooting by Colin Ferguson and the "black rage" defense he used.

The episode Performance (1995) appears to be based on the 1993 Spur Posse case.

The episode Seed (1995) appears to be based on the Dr. Cecil Jacobson case.

The episode Act of God (1995) appears to be based on real-life cases involving insurance claims involving an act of God.

The episode Privileged (1995) appears to be based on the 1994 Paul Cox case.

The episode Cruel and Unusual (1995) features an autism management center which was based on the Judge Rotenberg Educational Center in Canton, Massachusetts, one of the few autism management centers that uses electroshock as aversion therapy.

The episode Bad Faith (1995) appears to be based on James Porter molestation case in Boston which involved Porter, a priest, molesting children during the 1960's.

The episode Purple Heart (1995) appears to be based on the 1991 Anthony Riggs murder case.

The episode Switch (1995) appears to be based on two separate cases involving multiple-personality disorder the 1993 Karisa Santiago case and the 1970's Billy Milligan case.

The episode Pride (1995) appears to be based on the 1978 assassination of George Moscone and Harvey Milk committed by Dan White.

The episode Bitter Fruit (1995) appears to be based on both the 1993 Ellie Nesler case and the 1983 Marianne Bachmeier case in Germany.

The episode Savages (1995) appears to be based on New York's controversial capital punishment law.

The episode Jeopardy (1995) appears to be loosely based on the retraial of Harry Aleman (a.k.a. "The Hook") and the related suicide of Judge Frank J. Wilson.

The episode Hot Pursuit (1995) appears to be based on the 1976 Patty Hearst case, the 1958 spree killings by Charles Starkweather and Caril Ann Fugate and the 1996 Tanya Nicole Kach kidnapping.

The episode Paranoia (1995) appears to be based on the 1995 Gina Grant college admissions controversy and the 1995 Sinedu Tadesse case.

The episode Humiliation (1995) appears to be based on the 1995 Hugh Grant/Divine Brown incident.

The episode Angel (1995) appears to be based on both the 1994-1995 Susan Smith case and the 1968 Brewer v Williams case.

The episode Remand (1996) appears to be based on the 1964 Kitty Genovese case and the 1989 Matias Reyes (a.k.a. "The East Side Slasher") case.

The episode Corpus Delicti (1996) appears to be inspired by the 1976 Helen Brach case.

The episode Trophy (1996) appears to be based on the 1979-1981 Atlanta child murders committed by Wayne Williams.

The episode Charm City (1996) appears to be based on the Colin Ferguson and the 1993 Long Island Rail Road shooting case, the 1995 Tokyo subway sarin attack and the 1963 16th Street Baptist Church bombing.

The episode Encore (1996) appears to be based on the 1915-1919 Henri Désiré Landru (a.k.a. "The Bluebeard of Gambais") case and the 1995 Maria Isabel Pinto Monteiro Alves case.

The episode Savior (1996) appears to be based on two different family annihilation cases: The 1971 John List (a.k.a. "The Boogeyman of Westfield") case and the 1976 Bradford Bishop case.

The episode Atonement (1996) appears to be based on the 1995 Linda Sobek case.

The episode Pro Se (1996) appears to be based on the 1987 David Riggins case, 1992 Scott Panetti case, the 1983 Milton Johnson (a.k.a. "The Weekend Murderer") case and the 1972-1973 Herbert Mullin case.

The episode Homesick (1996) appears to be based on the 1991 death of Kristie Fischer, which Olivia Riner was accused and acquitted of.

The episode Aftershock (1996) focuses on an execution of a man who sounds like he committed a crime based on the the 1964 Kitty Genovese case.

The episode Causa Mortis (1996) appears to be loosely based on the 1996 Kathleen Weinstein case.

The episode I.D. (1996) appears to be based on the 1962 People v. Ortiz case.

The episode Corruption (1996) appears to be based on two separate incidents of corruption within the NYPD including: the 1967-1972 thefts of heroin from the Department Property Clerk's office of the New York City Police Department (NYPD) and revelations in 1970 of corruption within the NYPD made by Frank Serpico and David Durk, and the subsequent Mollen and Knapp commissions.

In the episode Double Blind (1996), an aspect of the crime appears to be inspired by The Anarchist Cookbook.

The episode Deadbeat (1996) appears to be partially inspired by the story of Jeffrey Nichols (a.k.a. "The King of Deadbeat Dads") and the case against British conman Robert Hendy-Freegard.

The episode Entrapment (1997) appears to be based on the 1994 Qubilah Shabazz case.

The episode Menace (1997) appears to be based on the 1995 Deletha Word case.

The episode Barter (1997) appears to be based on the 1996 Leonard Owen Mundy/Premium Commercial Services Corp. case.

The episode Matrimony (1997) appears to be based on the 1996 Anna Nicole Smith inheritance case.

The episodes D-Girl (1997)/Turnaround (1997)/Showtime (1997) are all based on the 1994 O.J. Simpson case and the 1947 Elizabeth Short (a.k.a. "The Black Dahlia") case.

The episode Mad Dog (1997) appears to be based on the 1994 murder of Megan Nicole Kanka and The 1997 Kansas v. Hendricks case, which at the time of the episode first airing was still being argued.

The episode Double Down (1997) appears to be based on the 1963 John Leo Brady/Donald Boblit case.

The episode We Like Mike (1997) is based on the 1997 murder of Ennis Cosby, the only son of actor Bill Cosby.

The episode Terminal (1997) paralleled real events that occurred between 1995 and 1996 involving the death penalty being used in New York City, including the 1996 shooting death of Police Officer Kevin Gillespie by Angel Diaz.

The episode Thrill (1997) appears to be based on the 1997 Thomas Koskovich/Jason Vreeland murder case.

The episode Denial (1997) appears to be based on both the 1997 Amy Grossberg and Brian Peterson case and the 1997 Melissa Drexler (a.k.a. "The Prom Mom") case.

The episode Navy Blues (1997) appears to be based on the 1997 sex scandal involving the U.S. Air Force and Lt. Kelly Flinn.

The episode Harvest (1997) appears to be based on the 1976 People v. Stewart case as well as being inspired by a piece on 60 Minutes (1968) about people being shot in Los Angeles during drive-bys.

This episode Nullification (1997) appears to be based on several different cases/incidents including: the 1968 Chicago Seven case, the 1969 Panther 21 case, the 1981 Brink's robbery, the 1997 North Hollywood shootout, The nationwide outrage of right-wing extremists following events like the 1992 Ruby Ridge standoff and the 1993 Waco siege, the rise of militia organizations in the U.S and the purported connection between the Aryan Republican Army and the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing.

The episode Baby, It's You (1997) appears to be based on the 1996 death of JonBenét Ramsey.

The episode Blood (1997) appears to be based on both the 1987 Baby M case and the life of American writer Anatole Broyard.

The episode Shadow (1997) appears to be based on the "shadow counsel" invocation.

The episode Burned (1997) appears to be based on the physical decline of billionaire businessman, film producer, film director and aviator Howard Hughes.

The episode Ritual (1997) appears to be based on the heightened concern over female genital mutilation.

The episode Under the Influence (1998) appears to be based on the 1996 hit-and-run incident at Wake Forest University committed by Thomas R. Jones and the legal debate over filing first-degree murder charges for homicides caused by impaired driving.

This episode Castoff (1998) appears to be based on the 1997 Andrew Cunanan case as well as the debate of media portrayal of violence influencing criminal behavior.

The episode Grief (1998) appears to be inspired by the 1995 case of "Kathy", a comatose woman who was raped and impregnated.

The episode Faccia a Faccia (1998) appears to be based on the 1990's Salvatore "Sammy the Bull" Gravano case and the 1978-1990 Vincent Gigante case.

The episode Divorce (1998) appears to be based on the 1991 divorce of Joseph P. Kennedy II and Sheila Brewster Rauch.

The episode Carrier (1998) appears to be based on the 1997 Nushawn Williams case.

The episode Stalker (1998) appears to be loosely based on part of the 1988 Richard Farley case.

The episode Disappeared (1998) features a defendant that appears to be based on the 1978-1995 Theodore "Ted" Kaczynski, a.k.a. the Unabomber.

The episode Burden (1998) appears to be based on the 1980's Jack Kevorkian (a.k.a. "Dr. Death") case.

The episode Bad Girl (1998) is most likely inspired by 1983/1998 Karla Faye Tucker case.

The episode Damaged (1998) appears to be based on the 1989 Glen Ridge High School rape case, the 1996 Patrick Daly case and the related 1998 People v. Russell case.

The episode Tabloid (1998) appears to be based on the 1997 deaths of Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed caused by Henri Paul.

The episode DWB (1998) appears to be based on the 1991 Rodney King case, the 1998 James Byrd, Jr. case. The term "driving while black" and the term "blue wall of silence".

The episode Bait (1998) appears to be based on the 1998 Chad MacDonald case.

The episode Flight (1998) appears to be based on the 1998 Brian Stewart case.

The episode Agony (1998) appears to be based on the 1980's Ted Bundy case.

The episode Scrambled (1998) appears to be based on the 1998 Kass v. Kass case.

The episode Punk (1998) appears to be based on the epidemic of prison rape in the U.S.

The episode True North (1998) appears to be based on the 1979/1999 Stanley Faulder case.

The episode Hate (1999) appears to be based on several cases/incidents including: the Tom Metzger case, the Kimberly Dotts murder case, the National Socialist Movement political party, the 1977 National Socialist Party of America v. Village of Skokie case, the 1969 Brandenburg v. Ohio case, the 1941 Milk Wagon Drivers v. Meadowmoor Dairies, Inc. case, and the ethical debate about redefining the limitations of freedom of speech to prevent incitement of violence.

The episode Ramparts (1999) appears to be based on several cases/incidents including: the 1985 Handschu agreement, the Rampart scandal that affected the CRASH unit of the LAPD, suspicions and evidence that Donald DeFreeze was an informant for the LAPD and/or the CIA, the controversial COINTELPRO program, the Mississippi Burning murders, the Weather Underground anti-war movement and The term "agent provocateur".

The episode Haven (1999) appears to be based on the 1996 George Kobayashi cheating scandal.

The episode Hunters (1999) appears to be based on the 1997 murders of Chris Foote and Spring Wright.

The episode Sideshow (1999) appears to be based on the sex scandal involving Monica Lewinsky and Bill Clinton.

The episode Disciple (1999) appears to be based on the 1998 Charity Miranda case.

The episode Harm (1999) appears to be based on the 1997 Lisa Smart medical malpractice case in New York City.

The episode Juvenile (1999) appears to be based on the 1990's Stephen Glass fabrication scandal.

The episode Tabula Rasa (1999) appears to be based on the 1999 Rachel and Lisa Martin kidnapping case.

The episode Empire (1999) appears to be based on the arguments between real-estate developer Donald Trump, Mayor Rudy Giuliani, and the New York Yankees owner George M. Steinbrenner III over a new sports stadium.

The episode Ambitious (1999) appears to be based on the 1990's-2000's John Gotti Jr. case.

The episode Admissions (1999) appears to be based on the 1997 murder of 7-year-old Sherrice Iverson committed by Jeremy Strohmeyer.

The episodes Refuge: Part 1 (1999)/Refuge: Part 2 (1999) appears to be based on the Russian mafia drug money laundering scams during the 1980s and 1990s between New York's JFK Airport and Russia's Moscow.

The episode Gunshow (1999) appears to be based on both the 1989 École Polytechnique massacre committed by Marc Lepine, as well as the 1993 101 California Street shooting, in San Francisco, California.

The episode Killerz (1999) appears to be based on the 1993 murder of James Bulger and the 1968 Mary Bell/Norma Bell case.

The episode Justice (1999) appears to be based on the 1954 Samuel Sheppard case, specifically his son Samuel Reese Sheppard's mission to clear his father's name., years later.

The episode Marathon (1999) appears to be based on the 1999 Jacqueline Frezza case.

The episode Blood Money (1999) appears to be based on the true case of a scandal involving Italian insurance company, Assicurazioni Generali subsidiaries, whose company declined to pay on policies of at least 40 families of Polish, Czech, Yugoslavian, and Hungarian origin who perished in the Holocaust during World War II.

The episode Sundown (1999) appears to be inspired by the unethical treatment of patients at prison hospital wards.

The episode Loco Parentis (2000) features a fictional video game that was probably inspired by the controversial Doom (1993) video game.

The episode Collision (2000) appears to be inspired by the debate over whether mentally-ill people have the right to refuse medication.

The episode Panic (2000) appears to be based on the 1997 Eugene Bennett case.

The episode Entitled (2000) appears to be based on The 1976 David Berkowitz (a.k.a. "The Son of Sam") case and speculations regarding mob involvement in the case, the controversies surrounding the Kennedy family and the so-called "Kennedy curse", the Chappaquiddick incident involving Senator Ted Kennedy, the 1991 sexual assault charge against William Kennedy Smith, the theories advanced by the 1976 book Jack the Ripper: The Final Solution and the 1960's-1970's Zodiac Killer case.

The episode Fools for Love (2000) appears to be based on the 1987-1990 Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka (aka "The Ken and Barbie Killers") case.

The episode Trade This (2000) appears to be based on the 1999 Mark O. Barton case.

The episode Mega (2000) appears to be based on the 1955 United Airlines Flight 629 bombing committed by Jack Gilbert Graham, whilst a supporting character appears to be based on L. Ron Hubbard.

The episode Untitled (2000) appears to be inspired by the 1987 controversy over the art piece "Immersion (Piss Christ)" by Andres Serrano.

The episode Narcosis (2000) appears to be based on the publics concern over Internet addiction.

The episode High & Low (2000) appears to be based on the 1999 James McDermott trading scandal.

The episode Stiff (2000) appears to be loosely based on the 1979 Claus von Bülow case.

The episode Vaya Con Dios (2000) appears to be based on the 2001 Charles Horman case.

The episode Endurance (2000) appears to be based on the 1997 Janine Albury-Thomson case.

The episode Turnstile Justice (2000) appears to be based on the 1999 Kendra Webdale case.

The episode Return (2000) appears to be based on the 1997 Samuel Sheinbein case.

The episode appears to be based on the 2000 H. Rap Brown case and the 1972 Harlem mosque incident, which resulted in the murder of officer Phillip Cardillo.

The episode Amends (2000) appears to be based on the 1975 Martha Moxley/Michael Skakel case.

The episode Thin Ice (2000) appears to be based on the 2000 Thomas Junta case.

The episode Hubris (2001) appears to be based on the 1995 Gillian Guess case and a supporting character appears to be based on Ted Bundy.

The episode Whose Monkey Is It Anyway? (2001) appears to be based on the 1988 Reston African filovirus outbreak.

The episode Sunday in the Park with Jorge (2001) appears to be based on the 2000 Puerto Rican Day Parade attacks.

The episode Teenage Wasteland (2001) appears to be based on the 2000 murder of Jin-Sheng Liu.

The episode A Losing Season (2001) appears to be based on the 1999 Rae Carruth case and the 1994 arrest of O.J. Simpson.

The episode Swept Away - A Very Special Episode (2001) features a reality TV show which appears to be based on real-world programmes such as Big Brother (2000) and The Real World (1992).

The episode Bronx Cheer (2001) appears to be based on several wrongful convictions that occurred during the tenure of controversial former Bronx County District Attorney Robert T. Johnson.

The episode Ego (2001) appears to be based on the 1996 Thomas Capano case.

The episode White Lie (2001) appears to be based on the 2000 "Plan Colombia" initiative set up to combat Colombian drug cartels and left-wing insurgent groups in Colombia.

The episode Whiplash (2001) appears to be based on the 1996 "sudden stop" car accidents conspiracy in Chicago, Illinois.

The episode All My Children (2001) appears to be based on the 1997 murder of Ennis Cosby.

The episode Brother's Keeper (2001) appears to be based on the 1990's James 'Whitey' Bulger case, the 1970's Danny Greene case and the 1950's-1960's Ronald Kray and Reggie Kray case.

The episode School Daze (2001) appears to be based on several high-profile school shootings that occurred in the late 1990s in particular the 1999 Columbine High School massacre committed by Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold.

The episode Judge Dread (2001) appears to be based on the 1979 murder of Judge John H. Wood Jr.

The episode Deep Vote (2001) appears to be based on the vote recount in the 2000 United States presidential election.

The episode Who Let the Dogs Out? (2001) appears to be based on the 2001 Dana Whipple dog mauling case.

The episode Armed Forces (2001) appears to be based on the 2001 Thanh Phong raid controversy surrounding Bob Kerrey and the My Lai massacre, which occurred during the Vietnam War on March 16, 1968.

The episode For Love or Money (2001) appears to be based on the 1989 Debra Hartmann case.

The episode Soldier of Fortune (2001) appears to be based on the South African De Beers corporation diamond conflicts.

The episode Formerly Famous (2001) appears to be based on the 2001 murder of Bonnie Lee Bakley.

The episode Myth of Fingerprints (2001) appears to be based on the 2001 Joyce Gilchrist case.

The episode The Fire This Time (2001) appears to be based on the case against the Earth Liberation Front, whilst the character of defence attorney Whitten, played by Tom Bower, appears to be based on and/or inspired by the controversial, radical left-wing lawyer William Kunstler.

The episode 3 Dawg Night (2001) appears to be based on the 1999 shooting at Club New York involving music artist Sean 'Diddy' Combs (a.k.a. "Puff Daddy)".

The episode Prejudice (2001) appears to be based on the 1998 James Byrd, Jr. case.

The episode The Collar (2002) appears to be based on issues arising from confessional privilege in the U.S.

The episode Missing (2002) appears to be based on the 2002 Chandra Levy case.

The episode Born Again (2002) appears to be based on both the 2000 Candace Newmaker case and (partially) the 1994 Susan Smith case.

The episode Equal Rights (2002) appears to be based on the 2001 Enron scandal.

The episode Slaughter (2002) appears to be loosely based on both the 1993 Jack in the Box E. coli and the 1996 Odwalla E. coli outbreaks.

The episode Foul Play (2002) appears to be based on the 2000 Danny Almonte age scandal.

The episode Attorney Client (2002) appears to be based on the 1997 Craig Rabinowitz case.

The episode Patriot (2002) appears to be based on the prejudice against Muslims and Arabs after the September 11 (9/11) attacks as well as the 2004 Jonathan Idema case.

The episode American Jihad (2002) appears to be based on the 2001 John Walker Lindh case, the 2006 trial of Zacarias Moussaoui and the 2001 Dartmouth College murders committed by James J. Parker and Robert W. Tulloch.

The episode Shangri-La (2002), appears to be based on the 1990's Treva Thorneberry, (a.k.a. Briana Stewart) case, and the legal debate of charging adults with statutory rape for having consensual sex with their underage romantic partners.

The episode True Crime (2002) appears to be based on the 1994 suicide of Kurt Cobain.

The episode Tragedy on Rye (2002) appears to be based on the May 2001 shooting at Carnegie Deli.

The episode The Ring (2002) appears to be based on both the 2001 Disappearance of Sneha Anne Philip and the epidemic of insurance scams after the September 11 attacks.

The episode Hitman (2002) appears to be based on both the 2004 Ted Ammon case and several cases of hitman-assisted suicides.

The episode Open Season (2002) appears to be based on both the 2005 Lynne Stewart case and the life of William Kunstler.

The episode Asterisk (2002) appears to be based on both the 2002 Jayson Williams case and the "roid rage" side-effect of using anabolic steroids.

The episode The Wheel (2002) appears to be based on the 1999 persecution of the Falun Gong spiritual practice and the 1991 Gang Lu case.

The episode Absentia (2003) appears to be based on the 1977-1997 Ira Einhorn (a.k.a. "The Unicorn Killer") case.

The episode B*tch (2003) appears to be based on the 2002 ImClone stock trading case involving Martha Stewart.

The episode Suicide Box (2003) appears to be based on the 2002 Tri-State Crematory scandal, also a supporting character is inspired by civil rights activist Reverend Al Sharpton.

The episode Genius (2003) appears to be based on both the 1981 Jack Abbott case and the 1976 Gary Gilmore case. As well as well as being based on the life of the writer Norman Mailer.

The episode Maritime (2003) appears to be based on the 2002 disappearance of Bison Dele.

The episode Kid Pro Quo (2003) appears to be based on the Sanford I. "Sandy" Weill controversy.

The episode House Calls (2003) appears to be based on the 2001 shoplifting trial of Winona Ryder.

The episode Sheltered (2003) appears to be based on the 2002 Beltway Washington, D.C. sniper attacks committed by John Allen Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo, The 1995 Peter Sylvester (a.k.a. "The Suffolk County Sniper") case and the 1972 kidnapping of Steven Stayner by Kenneth Parnell.

The episode Couples (2003) appears to be based on the Scott Peterson case, the Clara Harris case, as well as being Inspired by cases of fetal abduction.

The episode Smoke (2003) appears to be base on the 2002 Michael Jackson child molestation scandal.

The episode Bodies (2003) appears to be based on both the 2003 Gary Ridgway (a.k.a. "The Green River Killer") case and the 1973 Robert Garrow case and the related "Buried Bodies" legal ethics case.

The episode Bounty (2003) appears to be based on both the 2003 Jayson Blair plagiarism scandal and the 2003 capture of Andrew Luster. As well as the Criticism of the affirmative action policy.

The episode Patient Zero (2003) appears to be based on both the 1998 Dr. Richard J. Schmidt case and the 2002-2004 SARS outbreak.

The episode Shrunk (2003) appears to be based on both the 2003 murder of Lana Clarkson committed by Phil Spector and the unconventional 24-hour therapy and treatment of Brian Wilson by Dr. Eugene Landy.

The episode Blaze (2003) appears to be based on the 2003 deadly nightclub fire during a Great White concert in West Warwick, Rhode Island.

The episode Floater (2003) appears to be based on the 2002 Justice Victor I. Barron case.

The episode Embedded (2003) appears to be based on the 2003 Geraldo Rivera controversy during the Iraq War.

The episode Darwinian (2004) appears to be based on the 2003 murder of Gregory Glenn Biggs.

The episode Payback (2004) appears to be based on the 2002 trial of Mafia Don Vincent Gigante.

The episode City Hall (2004) appears to be based on both the 2003 assassination of James E. Davis as well as the criticism of the FISA Court following the September 11 attacks.

The episode Hands Free (2004) appears to be based on the 2003 Robert Durst case.

The episode Evil Breeds (2004) appears to be based on the 1970s-1990s John Demjanjuk (a.k.a. "Ivan the Terrible") case.

The episode Nowhere Man (2004) appears to be based on the 2003 murder of Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan Luna.

The episode Everybody Loves Raimondo's (2004) appears to be based on the 2004 Louis Barone/Albert Circelli, Jr. murder case.

The episode Vendetta (2004) appears to be based on both the 1987 Fred Zain and Glen Woodall cases as well as the 2003 Steve Bartman incident.

The episode Gaijin (2004) appears to be based on both the 1987 Kazuyoshi Miura case and the 1989 Charles "Chuck" Stuart case.

The episode C.O.D. (2004) appears to be based on the novel/movie Strangers on a Train (1951).

The episode Paradigm (2004) appears to be based on the 2003 Abu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuse scandal.

The episode The Dead Wives Club (2004) appears to be based on the 2003 Staten Island Ferry crash, the post-September 11th 2001 terrorist attack climate in the United States and the controversial Low Copy Number DNA profiling technique.

The episode The Brotherhood (2004) appears to be based on both the Aryan Brotherhood prison gang and the Matthew Hale case involving federal judge Joan Lefkow.

The episode Coming Down Hard (2004) appears to be based on the slew of suicides that took place at New York University during the 2003-2004 school year.

The episode Gunplay (2004) appears to be based on the 2003 Ronell Wilson case.

The episode Cut (2004) appears to be based on the 2004 Olivia Goldsmith case.

The episode Gov Love (2004) appears to be based on the scandalous 2004 resignation of New Jersey Governor James McGreevey, the 2004 scandal involving Connecticut Governor John Rowland, the 2004 Jason West case and the brief period of gay marriages in 2004 that were permitted at the direction of San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and later annulled by the California Supreme Court.

The episode Cry Wolf (2004) appears to be based on the attempted murder of Curtis Sliwa by Teflon Don' John Gotti.

The episode Fixed (2004) appears to be based on Joel Steinberg's 2004 release from prison.

The episode Mammon (2005) appears to be based on the 2001 Ted Ammon case.

The episode Ain't No Love (2005) appears to be based on the Jason William Mizell (a.k.a. Jam Master Jay) shooting case.

The episode Fluency (2005) appears to be based on the 2002 Robert Courtney case, the 2004-2005 shortage of the flu vaccine in the United States and the British noir film The Third Man (1949).

The episode Obsession (2005) appears to be based on the 2004 Bill O'Reilly sexual harassment scandal and the 1999 Celeste Beard Johnson case.

The episode The Sixth Man (2005) appears to be based on the 2000 Ray Lewis murder trial, the 1999 Rae Carruth attempted murder case, a brawl that broke out at a 2004 game between the Indiana Pacers and Detroit Piston and the 1997 attack on Warriors head coach P.J. Carlesimo by All-Star Latrell Sprewell.

The episode License to Kill (2005) appears to be based on both the 2004 Chai Vang case and the 1982 Carl Robert Brown case.

The episode Dining Out (2005) features a supporting character who appears to be inspired by celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay.

The episode Sects (2005) appears to be based on the Children of God cult and the related 2005 Ricky "Davidito" Rodriguez case.

The episode Publish and Perish (2005) appears to be based on the 2004 Bernard Kerik ethics violation scandal.

The episode Locomotion (2005) appears to be based on the 2005 Glendale, California Metrolink train crash.

The episode Flaw (2005) appears to be based on both the 1998-2001 Sante and Kenneth Kimes case and the 1996-1998 Amy Grossberg/Brian Peterson case.

The episode Ghosts (2005) appears to feature some elements inspired by the 1996 murder of JonBenét Ramsey.

The episode appears to be based on the Kelly Anne Bates case.

The episode Age of Innocence (2005) appears to be based on the 1998-2005 Terri Schiavo case.

The episode Life Line (2005) appears to be based on the 2003 Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) international gang case.

The episode House of Cards (2005) appears to be based on the 2004 Murder of Bobbie Jo Stinnett.

The episode New York Minute (2005) appears to be based on both the 2003-2006 Tyrone M. Williams case and the 2005 Minuteman Project.

The episode Criminal Law (2005) appears to be based on the 1989 crime thriller film Hit List (1989) and the 1984 Gary Plauché case.

The episode Acid (2005) appears to be based on the 1996-1997 Kelly Anne Bates case.

The episode Bible Story (2005) appears to be based on the scenario of sacrilege upon religious texts.

The episode Family Friend (2006) appears to be based on the 1992-1994 New York State Police Troop C evidence planting scandal.

The episode Magnet (2006) appears to be based on the 2004 Tom Cruise anti-psychiatry comments controversy.

The episode Choice of Evils (2006) appears to be based on the 1994-1995 Susan Smith case, the 1976 Gary Gilmore case, the "choice of evils" defense and the controversial debate of nature versus nurture.

The episode America, Inc. (2006) appears to be based on the 2004 Fallujah ambush and the related Helvenston v. Blackwater Security lawsuit.

The episode Thinking Makes It So (2006) appears to be based on the story of Michelle Ramskill-Estey and the related 2003 Bank of America robbery and hostage situation in Vista, California.

The episode Positive (2006) appears to be based on a 1997 report by Public Citizen about unethical AIDS research.

The episode Kingmaker (2006) appears to be based on the Valerie Plame Wilson (a.k.a. "Plamegate") scandal.

The episode Fame (2006) appears to be based on the 2004 Britney Spears/Kevin Federline relationship scandal, the 2005 Kate Moss drug use allegations and the 2005 Lillo Brancato murder case.

The episode Avatar (2006) appears to be based on the 2004 Rachelle Waterman case.

The episode Home Sweet (2006) appears to be based on the July 2006 explosion of an Upper East Side brownstone owned by Dr. Nicholas Bartha.

The episode Fear America (2006) appears to be based on the 2004 Toledo terrorism plot as well as the life and death of Mohammad Salman Hamdani.

The episode Public Service Homicide (2006) appears to be inspired by the TV trend for such shows as Dateline NBC (1992)'s To Catch a Predator segment as well as the Perverted Justice Foundation.

The episode Profiteer (2006) appears to be based on the 2005 Interceptor body armor package scandal and the 2006 David H Brooks case.

The episode In Vino Veritas (2006) appears to be based on both the 2006 drink-driving charge of the actor Mel Gibson and the 1973 reckless driving charge against U.S. Representative Patrick Joseph Kennedy II (D-Rhode Island).

The episode Release (2006) appears to be based on the 2006 criminal cases brought against Girls Gone Wild creator Joe Francis.

The episode Deadlock (2006) appears to be based on the 2006 West Nickel Mines School shooting, the 2000 Wendy's massacre, the 2004 People v. John Taylor case and subsequent legislative efforts to reinstate the capital punishment law in New York and the 1986-1989 escape and killing spree of Allan Legere.

The episode Remains of the Day (2007) appears to be based on the 2006 death of Daniel Smith, the son of Anna Nicole Smith, the 2005 Biomedical Tissue Services body part theft scandal, the 1985 Winston v. Lee case and the Criticism of the U.S. healthcare system.

The episode Charity Case (2007) appears to be based on the 2006 foreign adoption scandal involving pop singer Madonna.

The episode Talking Points (2007) appears to be based on the Ann Coulter controversies.

The episode Church (2007) appears to be based on the 2006 Ted Haggard scandal.

The episode Melting Pot (2007) appears to be based on the 2006 Adrienne Shelly case and the career and the 2004 assassination of Theo van Gogh.

The episode Murder Book (2007) appears to be based on the 1994 O.J. Simpson murder case and his controversial 2007 book "If I Did It".

The episode Good Faith (2007) appears to be based on both the 2005 Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District case and the 2006 Alabama church fires.

The episode Fallout (2007) appears to be based on the 1978 Georgi Markow poisoning case, the 2004 Viktor Yushchenko poisoning case, the 2006 Alexander Litvinenko poisoning case, The ongoing concern of sex trafficking in Russia and the 1962 prisoner exchange between Rudolf Ivanovich Abel and Francis Gary Powers.

The episode Captive (2007) appears to be based on the 2007 Michael J. Devlin case.

The episode Over Here (2007) appears to be based on the 2007 Walter Reed Army Medical Center neglect scandal.

The episode Called Home (2008) appears to be based on the 1980's and 1990's Dr. Jack Kevorkian (a.k.a. "Dr. Death") case.

The episode Darkness (2008) appears to be based on the 2000 Enron scandal and the related electricity crisis in California.

The episode Misbegotten (2008) appears to be based on the controversial "gay gene" studies.

The episode Bottomless (2008) appears to be based on the 2005 Pearson v. Chung case, the 2007 Chinese export recalls and the ethics enforcement efforts by multinational retailing corporation Walmart.

The episode Driven (2008) appears to be based on both the 2007 Eva Daley case and the 2006 Jena Six case.

The episode Political Animal (2008) appears to be based on the 2007 Norman Hsu scandal, the 2006-2007 Larry Craig sex scandal, the suicide of Vince Foster and the conspiracy theories surrounding it. Also a supporting character is based on Hillary Clinton.

The episode Quit Claim (2008) appears to be based on a number of sub-prime mortgages scandals, is also partially ripped from the pages of The Day of the Jackal and its film adaptation (The Day of the Jackal (1973)) and is inspired by controversial invocations of the Patriot Act.

The episode Illegal (2008) appears to be based on the 2007 MacArthur Park rallies.

The episode Executioner (2008) appears to be based on the 2006 botched execution of Ángel Nieves Díaz and other botched executions that occurred in the United States as well as anonymity laws that shield the identities of people involved in executions and the 2007 Steven Hayes/Joshua Komisarjevsky case.

The episode Tango (2008) appears to be based on the 2006 Jennifer Moore case.

The episode Betrayal (2008) appears to be based on the 2002/2006 Susan Polk case, the 2006-2007 Mary Winkler case and the 1998 Rind et al. controversy.

The episode Submission (2008) appears to be based on the 2007 Lisa Stebic case and the related Amy Jacobson scandal and the 2007 Bad Newz Kennels dog fighting scandal involving NFL quarterback Michael Vick.

The episode Angelgrove (2008) appears to be inspired by the controversial Jesus Camp (2006) documentary film.

The episode Burn Card (2008) appears to be based on the David D'aloia/James O'Hara case and the 2007 NBA betting scandal involving Tim Donaghy.

No one has answered this question yet.

George Dzundza (Detective Sergeant Max Greevy; Season 1 only) left the series after the first season because the series was originally meant to film in Los Anegles where his family lived at the time when the series was switched to shoot in New York he couldn't commit to the commute.

Paul Sorvino (Detective Sergeant Phil Cerreta; Seasons 2-3) left in the middle of the third season because he disliked show's work schedule and, because he wanted to preserve his vocal cords from the cold New York air, as he was also an opera singer at the time.

Dann Florek (Captain Donald Cragen; Seasons 1-3) & Richard Brooks (A.D.A Paul Robinette; Seasons 1-3) were both let go in the third season after a cast cull to include more female characters.

Michael Moriarty (EADA Ben Stone; Seasons 1-4) left after the fourth season, alleging that his departure was a result of his threatening a lawsuit against then-Attorney General Janet Reno, who had cited Law & Order as offensively violent. Moriarty criticized Reno's comment, and claimed that not only did she want to censor shows like Law & Order but also such fare as Murder, She Wrote (1984). He later accused Law & Order executive producer Dick Wolf of not taking his concerns seriously, and claimed that Wolf and other network executives were "caving in" to Reno's "demands" on the issue of TV violence.

Chris Noth (Detective Mike Logan; Seasons 1-5) was let go after the fifth Season after it was decided that the characters of Mike Logan and Lennie Briscoe were too alike. Plus Noth and Producer Dick Wolf did not get on at that time.

Jill Hennessy (ADA Claire Kincaid; Seasons 4-6) left after the sixth season after being asked to be written out after Hennessy expressed concern about being typecast as an "uptight lawyer".

Carey Lowell (ADA Jamie Ross; Seasons 7-8) left after season eight after asking for time to be with her daughter.

Benjamin Bratt (Detective Rey Curtis; Seasons 6-9) left after season nine to do other work in Hollywood films.

Steven Hill (DA Adam Schiff; Seasons 1-10) was getting older and wanted to retire from acting after season ten.

Angie Harmon (ADA Abbie Carmichael; Seasons 9-11) left after season eleven after being frustrated about her work scheduled on the series meant that she couldn't go for big Hollywood parts and felt that her character "didn't grow" enough for her.

Dianne Wiest (Intern DA Nora Lewin; Seasons 11-12) left after season twelve because she was tired of the role of Nora Lewin and wished to move on to other projects.

Jerry Orbach (Detective Lennie Briscoe; Seasons 3-14) was nearing retirement and decided to lesson his work load by leaving the series after season fourteen to star in Law & Order spin-off Law & Order: Trial by Jury (2005). However Orbach later died on December 28, 2004 from prostate cancer.

Elisabeth Röhm (ADA Serena Southerlyn; Seasons 12-15) left the series in the middle of season fifteen to do new projects as she felt she didn't have anything else to offer the character.

Michael Imperioli (Detective Nick Falco; Season 15 only) was always intended to be a temporary replacement for Jesse L. Martin who was filming the movie Rent (2005) at the end of season fifteen.

Dennis Farina (Detective Joe Fontana; Seasons 15-16) decided to move on to other projects after season sixteen.

Annie Parisse (ADA Alexandra Borgia; Seasons 15-16) just decided to quit her role after season sixteen.

Milena Govich (Detective Nina Cassady; Season 17 only) was fired because her character wasn't fitting in with the show, she left after starring only in season seventeen.

Fred Thompson (DA Arthur Branch; Season 13-17) quit after season seventeen to run for President, but lost.

Jesse L. Martin (Detective Ed Green; Season 10-18) left to pursue other acting jobs after growing tired of the role in season eighteen.

The rest of the cast Jeremy Sisto (Detective Cyrus Lupo; Season 18-20), Anthony Anderson (Detective Kevin Bernard; Season 18-20), S. Epatha Merkerson (Lieutenant Anita Van Buren; Season 4-20), Linus Roache (EADA Michael Cutter), Alana De La Garza (ADA Connie Rubirosa; Season 17-20) and Sam Waterston (DA Jack McCoy; Season 5-20) were all still on the show when it was cancelled.

1 Hogan Place - Home of the District Attorney's offices.

1PP - 1 Police Plaza, NYPD headquarters.

The "two-seven" - The 27th precinct where the homicide detectives are housed.

ADA - Assistant District Attorney. The local public official who represents the government in the prosecution of alleged criminals. The prosecution is the legal party responsible for presenting the case against an individual suspected of breaking the law in a criminal trial. ADAs from Manhattan, New York City work for the district attorney's office. They are supervised by an Executive assistant district attorney or a Bureau Chief.

APB - All Points Bulletin.

Brady Violation - The prosecution lawyers and police must turn all evidence they are aware of over to the defence for them to be able to counter, even if it hurts their case, what is known as 'Discovery'.

BOLO - Be on the Look Out.

Bus - Paramedic Ambulance.

CI - Confidential Informant.

COD - Cause of Death.

CSU - Crime Scene Unit, Forensic Technician Personel. The unit is responsible for forensic investigations of homicides and sexual assaults, as well as other crimes as deemed necessary. Members of the Crime Scene Unit assist the precinct detectives in the processing of a crime scene as well as determining the proper routing of evidence. The Crime Scene Unit has many tools at its disposal to process a crime scene including the materials needed to develop fingerprints, cast footwear and tire impressions, follow the trajectory of bullets fired through windows and the chemicals necessary to observe blood under special lighting conditions that would otherwise be invisible to the naked eye. The unit is also trained to process a crime scene in a hazardous environment, for example following a nuclear, biological or chemical attack.

DA - District Attorney. the title of the local public official who represents the government in the prosecution of alleged criminals. The DA is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of executive assistant district attorney and assistant district attorneys. It is typically an elected position, as in New York City, but this can vary from one jurisdiction to another. Therefore, it is common for DAs, unlike their subordinates, to factor in political considerations in their work. The DA from Manhattan, New York City has its own office.

EADA - Executive Assistant District Attorney, the title given to the senior management of the District Attorney's office. They usually report directly to the District Attorney himself/herself. The exact roles and job assignments for each title vary with each individual office, but generally include management of the daily activities within the office. Generally speaking they are usually assigned to manage divisions within the District Attorney's office and they have several specialized bureaus under them. An Executive Assistant District Attorney is higher than an Assistant District Attorney, a Deputy Bureau Chief Assistant District Attorney, a Bureau Chief Assistant District Attorney and District Attorney investigators, but are lower than the Chief Assistant District Attorney who is the second in command and of the Manhattan District Attorney who is in charge. EADAs from Manhattan, New York City work for the District Attorney's Office, and have a number of ADAs working for them.

ESU - Emergency Services Unit, is a police tactical unit which provides specialized equipment, expertise and support to the various units within the police departments. These police forces do not have a traditional SWAT unit. The Emergency Service Unit qualifies in the role of a SWAT unit and much more. From auto accidents to building collapses to hostage situations, "ESU" officers are called on when the situation requires advanced equipment and expertise.

Fishing Expedition - When the police conduct a search they must have a definitive object in mind, they cannot just search in the hope of turning up some random evidence.

'Fruit of the poisoned tree' - Evidence that has been obtained improperly which may therefore be excluded from court. For instance a police officer searches a suspect and finds a weapon which is then linked to a murder. However the search is then ruled to be illegal due to insufficient grounds so the defence can argue that the evidence of the weapon should not be allowed to be introduced as part of the murder case.

Habeas Corpus - Latin for 'produce the body', that the accused should be able to confront their accuser in court, a legal principle dating back all the way to Magna Carta.

Hearsay - second hand witness testimony, a person repeating what they heard another say.

Lawyerd up - A suspect who invokes their right to not say anything and await their lawyer which the justice system will provide them.

LUD's - Local usage details, a list of a person's incoming and outgoing phone calls over a specified period of time. While LUDs are easy to obtain for police, they're not readily available at a cop's whim. Phone records are treated as private information, so investigators must prove to a judge that the search is warranted, in which case, the judge will grant a court order for the phone company to provide a suspect's LUDs.

Man One/Two/Three - Manslaughter in the 1st/2nd/3rd Degree.

ME - Medical Examiner, a physician, and a specialist in pathology or forensic science. Duties always include determining the cause, time, and manner of death. This uses the same investigatory skills of a police detective in most cases, because the answers are available from the circumstances, scene, and recent medical records. In many American jurisdictions any death not certified by the person's own physician must be referred to the M.E.

Molineux hearing - a judge's hearing in which they decide if previous unproven allegations against the accused can be entered into their current trial. This has become hugely contentious and is derisively known as the 'smoke without fire' method by defence lawyers, the prosecutors grouping together a series of unproven accusations, none of which could lead to conviction by itself but establishing a 'pattern of behaviour' by the accused in the hope of persuading a jury. Defence lawyers and campaigners for the falsely accused complain this runs the risk of false accusers 'jumping on the band wagon', especially if the accused is rich and famous.

Murder One/Two/Three - Murder in the 1st/2nd/3rd Degree. Miranda - The formal warning rights police are required to give suspects on arrest advising them of their constitutional rights including to remain silent, have legal council etc.

Perp walk - The suspect being publicly escorted to court for an arraignment hearing, sometimes in a blaze of publicity. This has become frowned upon in recent years as unnecessarily embarrassing, especially given how many cases do not lead to a conviction, leaving the accused officially innocent in the eyes of the law.

Pro Se - A legal term used for someone who opts to represent himself/herself either in a criminal or civil court proceeding. While Pro Se is the proper term for it in New York, other jurisdictions call it Pro Per. A popular phrase associated with this is "He/she who represents himself/herself has a fool for a client. This is because self-representation is considered the most foolish act in the legal profession because private citizens don't have as much knowledge of the legal system at their disposal and don't have the same resources an attorney has to research and prepare for their case.

Probable Cause - The police having a reasonable degree of evidence to justify their actions.

Riker's Island - New York's holding prison for those on remand awaiting trial.

Sub Judice - Literally 'under trial'. Once court proceedings begin there are limits placed on the prosecution lawyers and police over the public pronouncements they can make concerning the trial for fear of influencing it. Many previous high profile failed prosecutions/miscarriages of justice have been blamed on the case beginning in a blaze of publicity making the police and prosecutors reluctant to lose face and drop the investigation once their initial evidence is discredited.

T.A.R.U - Technical Assistance Response Unit a unit of the New York City Police Department who provides investigative technical equipment and tactical support to all bureaus within the department, in addition they also provide assistance to other City, State and Federal agencies.

T.O.D - Time of Death.

Tombs - Custody cells at police stations.

Voir Dire - Literally "To see, to say", a preliminary hearing for the judge and lawyers to examine the credibility of witnesses and jurors.

The following are the Miranda Rights as they exist in New York State today:

* You have the right to remain silent;

* Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law;

* You have a right to an attorney;

* If you cannot afford an attorney one will be appointed for you.

The police will arrest and interview suspects if they think there is sufficient evidence against them. It is then up to the District Attorney's (D.A) Office to decide if there is enough evidence to charge. If there is then a representative from the DA's office an Assistant District Attorney (A.D.A) will bring the accused before a Judge for an arraignment hearing, to decide when and where they will be put on trial and if they will get bail (released either on their own word or with a monetary security deposit) or be held in custody in the meantime. Afterwards the DA will go before the Grand Jury and present their case and the Grand Jury decides if there is enough evidence to justify them going to trial. The prosecution has the duty of disclosure, presenting all their evidence to the defence for them to be able to refute. The onus for conviction is on the prosecution to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt, the defendant doesn't have to prove their innocence, its up to the prosecution to establish their guilt. The defence lawyers have a duty of confidentiality towards their clients much like a doctor but there are exceptions such as information which threatens life. As officers of the court both defence and prosecution have a responsibility to report any malpractice in the system.

During trial, the (E)ADA will often ask for permission to treat the witness as hostile. What exactly does this mean? When a witness is called to the stand, his testimony is expected to support the argument of the side that subpoenaed him. If the witness becomes evasive or changes his testimony on the stand, the lawyer is given permission by the judge to treat the witness as if he were called to the stand by the opposing side which legally changes the nature of the questions and language the lawyer uses to ask them. That is to say, the direct examination becomes a cross examination, allowing the DA to use leading questions, giving the lawyer more latitude to suggest how the witness should answer.

No, they can enter in hot pursuit, to preserve life, to prevent imminent destruction of evidence or to search for a wanted felon. They need a search warrant for evidence when those elements do not apply.