Created by Dick Wolf, “Law & Order” is a legal drama television series that documents the various criminal cases handled by the police departments and the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office in New York City. It not only delves into the investigative aspect of the crimes, but also gives a detailed account of the prosecution. Additionally, it describes the pressures and challenges that police detectives and lawyers face when using their skills to solve different cases.
The realistic characters and plain narrative setting have garnered praise for the show since its premiere in 1990. The compelling portrayal of court proceedings and crime stories has audiences wondering if “Law & Order” is based on real incidents. In case you are also curious to know more, you have found an ally in us. Let’s find out together!
Is law and order a true story?
“Law & Order” is partly based on a true story. Each episode of the series focuses on individual cases, many of which were inspired by true crime stories and recent cases covered in the news. In such cases, the first part that describes the actual crime is named “Ripped from the Headlines”, because it is taken from breaking news. For example, Season 1 Episode 2, “Subterranean Homeboy Blues,” in which a woman shoots two attempted muggers, is based on the 1984 New York City subway shooting.
Bernhard Goetz shot four men on a subway train in Manhattan on December 2, 1984. He claimed they had allegedly tried to rob him and it was an act of self-defense. After appearing before two grand juries, his case went to trial. At the criminal trial, Goetz was acquitted of the charges of first-degree assault and attempted murder, but convicted of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree. He was eventually sentenced to a year in prison without probation, of which he served eight months.
At Goetz’s civil trial in 1996, the jury found that he acted recklessly and “deliberately inflicted emotional distress on Darrell Cabey”, whom he shot twice during the shooting. The court ordered Goetz to pay Cabey $43 million in damages. The case attracted a great deal of media attention and divided the public over the justification for Goetz’s actions. Furthermore, it has raised debate over the definitions and scope of self-defense as well as outrage from the common man over crime rates.
Another case chronicled in the series is the rape and murder of Jennifer Moore in 2006, in episode 10 of season 18 entitled “Tango”. Moore, 18, was a college student from New Jersey who was abducted around July 25, 2006 in Manhattan. After his body was found in a trash can in western New York, New York police arrested suspect Draymond Coleman based on video footage obtained from the Park Avenue Hotel near Weehawken, New Jersey.
Additionally, Coleman’s partner, Krystal Riordan, a 20-year-old New Jersey escort, was arrested as an accomplice for tampering with evidence and obstructing the investigation. In October 2006, Coleman was extradited to New Jersey for trial. Later in March 2010, he pleaded guilty to Moore’s murder and was sentenced to over 50 years in prison. Riordan was sentenced to 30 years in prison in May 2010, after pleading guilty to her involvement. Moore’s death sparked nationwide discussions about women’s safety and the regulation of nightlife.
Countless other prominent cases have been featured over the years in “Law & Order”, mostly in the form of fictional accounts where names and motives have been changed. Apart from that, the show covered several relevant social and ethical issues such as capital punishment, gun control, racism, corruption and right to life. Thus, it can be said that it is a perfect blend of fact and fiction that aims to entertain the viewers, while highlighting the dark truth of the crime and the punishment.
Read more: Where is Law & Order filmed?
