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Parents' Guide to

Law & Order: Criminal Intent

By Liz Perle, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Inside the mind of killers; not for kids.

TV NBC , USA Drama 2001
Law & Order: Criminal Intent Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

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age 12+

Based on 5 parent reviews

AntoniaChigas402
AntoniaChigas402 Adult
December 13, 2020
age 10+

This is OK for 10 years old and up

Yes Grandma Think this Show is for Ages 10 and Up.
Sargent Comerford
Sargent Comerford Adult
June 30, 2019
age 13+

Great instalment, but not as good as SVU.

This one touches base a New York City's war on crime and it goes inside the minds of criminals not for kids under the age of 13.
See all 5 parent reviews

What's the Story?

LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT is the second spin-off of the popular Law & Order. It features detectives from the NYPD's Major Case Squad. This show is more of a police procedural drama than a courtroom drama: It takes viewers into the minds of the criminals who perform a range of dastardly and often gruesome crimes. Playing the lead detectives are Vincent D'Onofrio (who plays the eerily intelligent Detective Robert Goren) and Kathryn Erbe (who is Goren's partner, Detective Alexandra Eames).

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (5 ):
Kids say (4 ):

Criminal Intent is the most cerebral of the Law & Order shows. It purports to take viewers into the minds of the criminals who perform a range of dastardly and often gruesome crimes and, while intriguing for adults, is a pretty iffy choice for younger viewers.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how the detectives follow the clues. Ask your teens how realistic they think the show is. Parents can also reassure their kids that these crimes aren't likely to occur to them.

TV Details

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