The 'Law and Order: SVU' Quiz

The series was originally supposed to be called Sex Crimes, but creator Dick Wolf wanted it associated with the "Law & Order" franchise.

True. Now in its 17th season, SVU has been on the air longer than any other prime-time drama.

The Special Victims Unit is located in the 16th Precinct of the New York City Police Department and focuses on victims of sexual crimes, such as rape and domestic abuse.

Detective John Munch was originally a character on NBC's "Homicide: Life on the Street." Munch also was a regular on "Law & Order," as well.

Detective Stabler and his wife Kathy have five children.

All of these were Munch's partners -- Briscoe was his partner on "Law & Order" and Jeffries was his first partner on SVU. Fin Tutuola replaced Jeffries after she was transferred to vice.

Assistant DA Alex Cabot appears to have been killed in a drive-by shooting, but she actually entered the federal Witness Protection Program after threats are made against her and her mother by rapist Rafael Zapata Gaviria.

NBC's "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" premiered on Sept. 20, 1999.

Ellen Burstyn plays Detective Stabler's bipolar mother, who is reluctant to admit that she has a disease.

Benson and Stabler were partners for 12 years.

Nick Amaro transfers to SVU after working in both the warrants and narcotics squads and becomes partners with Detective Benson.

Dann Florek, who played Capt. Don Cragen on SVU, has appeared in 400 episodes of the "Law & Order" franchise, more than any other actor.

True! Cooper played defense attorney Jason Whitaker in a two-hour crossover episode of SVU and "Law & Order Trial by Jury."

True. The show will revolve around a fictional reality dating show called Heart's Desire.

Cynthia Nixon won the 2008 Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her portrayal of Janis Donovan.

Detective Tutuola came to SVU from the Narcotics Division where he often spent months undercover.

Captain Cragen is a recovering alcoholic.

Captain Cragen asks Olivia Benson to take the sergeant's exam and tells her he's approaching the mandatory retirement age. Eventually she replaces him when he retires to join his girlfriend on a six-month cruise around the world.

True. Her mother Serena Benson was raped in 1967 by a food salesman named Joseph Hollister, who later committed suicide.

Detective Tutuola has one son, Kwasi "Kenneth" Randall, who is openly gay.

Detective Rollins joined SVU in September 2011 after moving to New York City from Atlanta. While in Atlanta, Rollins hunted a serial rapist who ended up in New York City.

Captain Cragen finds out Detective Rollins has a gambling problem and is $20,000 in debt with a bookie. Instead of firing her, he convinces her to attend Gamblers Anonymous meetings.

Ed Tucker is the captain and long-time officer of the Internal Affairs division. In Season 16, he and the now-Lt. Olivia Benson are possibly involved in a romantic relationship.

True. There have been many spinoffs from the original "Law & Order," but only SVU is still on air.

SVU has been nominated for 132 different awards, and won 47, including the 2005 Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama, and the 2006 Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, both for Mariska Hargitay.

Fourteen episodes of "Law & Order: SVU" have been nominated for the Prism Award -- six have won -- recognizing their accurate depiction of substance abuse and mental illness.

True. Later in Season 13 Giddish joined the SVU team as Detective Amanda Rollins.

True. While there have been some men who've had roles as ADAs on SVU (who could forget Harry Connick playing David Haden?), none were regulars until ADA Barba. Past assistant district attorneys include Alexandra Cabot, played by Stephanie March, Diane Neal as Casey Novak, Michaela McManus as Kim Greylek, Melissa Sagemiller as Gillian Hardwicke and Judith Light as Elizabeth Donnelly.

To date, SVU has been sold to more than 250 countries and territories around the world.

You know the words! In the criminal justice system, sexually-based offenses are considered especially heinous. In New York City, the dedicated detectives who investigate these vicious felonies are members of an elite squad known as the Special Victims Unit. These are their stories.