LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- NBC has picked up "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" for a 19th season.

A network spokesperson confirmed the news this afternoon:

Created by Emmy Award-winning producer Dick Wolf, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," is the longest-running primetime drama currently on television and recently reached its 400th episode. This hard-hitting and emotional series from NBC's "Law & Order" brand chronicles the life and crimes of the Special Victims Unit of the New York City Police Department, an elite squad of detectives who investigate sexually based crimes.

As acting commander of the SVU, Lt. Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) is a seasoned veteran of the unit who has seen it all. She leads with empathy and professionalism, all the while dealing with her difficult past as a product of rape and her future as mother to a young child, both of which influence the way she relates to each victim in need of help. Hargitay has garnered eight Emmy nominations for Lead Actress in a Drama Series and won in 2006. She has received six SAG nominations for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series, two Golden Globe nominations for Lead Actress in a Drama Series, winning the award in 2005, and has won four Gracie Allen Awards for Outstanding Female Lead, most recently for the 2016-217 season. In 2013, she was honored with a star on Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Sgt. Odafin "Fin" Tutuola (Ice T) adds a unique sense of humor and undercover investigative experience, making him a formidable match for any partner. Det. Amanda Rollins (Kelli Giddish) has earned her place as an integral part of the team while facing head-on the emotional toll it takes to work SVU, and Det. Dominick "Sonny" Carisi (Peter Scanavino) brings a fresh outlook and distinctive style of investigation to the squad. Assistant District Attorney Rafael Barba (Raúl Esparza) seeks justice for SVU's victims and survivors with precision and a passion to win.

"SVU" is frequently acknowledged for its guest players, with Emmy wins for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for Ann-Margret (2010), Ellen Burstyn (2009), Cynthia Nixon (2008), Leslie Caron (2007) and Amanda Plummer (2005), and nominations for such renown talent as Brenda Blethyn, Carol Burnett, Robin Williams, Marcia Gay Harden, Angela Lansbury, Marlee Matlin, Mare Winningham, Barbara Barrie, Martha Plimpton, Jane Alexander and Tracy Pollan.

In 2015, "SVU" won the Imagen Foundation Award for Best Primetime Program, recognizing the positive portrayal of Latinos in media. The series was honored with the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Drama Series in 2012, along with Ice T for Outstanding Actor (2002) and Delroy Lindo for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama (2010). Fourteen episodes of "SVU" were nominated for the Prism Award and six have won, recognizing their accurate depiction of substance abuse and mental illness. Three episodes have been nominated by the GLAAD Media Awards for outstanding representation of the LGBT community, and the show was honored with 10 Edgar Allan Poe Award nominations and two wins for Best Television episode.

The "Law & Order" brand has tremendous global appeal and, to date, "SVU" has been sold to more than 250 territories around the world.

"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" is a Wolf Films production in association with Universal Television.