View source for Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

{{Short description|1999 American crime drama television series}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox television
| name                 = Law & Order: {{nowrap|Special Victims Unit}}
| image                = Law & Order Special Victims Unit (logo).svg
| image_alt            = 
| caption              = 
| alt_name             = {{Plain list|
* ''Law & Order: SVU''
* ''SVU''
}}
| genre                = {{Plain list|
* [[Police procedural]]
* [[Crime film|Crime drama]]
* [[Legal drama]]
* [[Mystery fiction|Mystery]]
* [[Thriller (genre)|Thriller]]
}}
| creator              = [[Dick Wolf]]
| starring             = {{Plainlist|
* [[Christopher Meloni]]
* [[Mariska Hargitay]]
* [[Richard Belzer]]
* [[Dann Florek]]
* [[Michelle Hurd]]
* [[Stephanie March]]
* [[Ice-T]]
* [[BD Wong]]
* [[Diane Neal]]
* [[Tamara Tunie]]
* [[Adam Beach]]
* [[Michaela McManus]]
* [[Danny Pino]]
* [[Kelli Giddish]]
* [[Raúl Esparza]]
* [[Peter Scanavino]]
* [[Philip Winchester]]
* [[Jamie Gray Hyder]]
* [[Demore Barnes]]
* [[Octavio Pisano]]
* [[Molly Burnett]]
* [[Kevin Kane (actor)|Kevin Kane]]
* [[Juliana Aidén Martinez]]
}}
| narrated             = [[Steven Zirnkilton]]
| theme_music_composer = [[Mike Post]]
| opentheme            = "Theme of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit"
| endtheme             = 
| composer             = Mike Post
| country              = [[United States]]
| language             = English
| num_seasons          = 26
| num_episodes         = 573
| list_episodes        = List of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episodes
| executive_producer   = {{Unbulleted list|Dick Wolf|[[Ted Kotcheff]] (seasons 2–13)|[[Peter Jankowski]] (season 2–present)|[[Michael Smith (director)|Michael Smith]] (season 14)|[[Julie Martin (writer)|Julie Martin]] (season 14–present)|Jonathan Starch (seasons 15–17)|Arthur W. Forney (season 17–present)|Mariska Hargitay (season 15–present)}}
| showrunner           = {{Unbulleted list|[[Robert Palm]] (season 1)|[[David J. Burke]] (season 2)||[[Neal Baer]] (seasons 3–12)|[[Warren Leight]] (seasons 13–17, 21–23)||Rick Eid (season 18)|[[Michael S. Chernuchin]] (seasons 19–20)||[[David Graziano]] (season 24–present)}}
| camera               = [[Single-camera setup|Single-camera]]
| runtime              = 40–44 minutes
| company              = {{Plain list|
* [[Wolf Entertainment]]
* [[Universal Television]]{{efn| Credited as [[Studios USA Television]] (1999–2002), [[Universal Network Television]] (2002–2004), [[NBC Universal Television Studio]] (2004–2007) and [[Universal Media Studios]] (2007–2011).}}
}}
| network              = [[NBC]]
| first_aired          = {{Start date|1999|9|20}}
| last_aired           = present
| related              = [[Law & Order (franchise)|''Law & Order'' franchise]]
}}

'''''Law & Order: Special Victims Unit''''' (often shortened to '''''Law & Order: SVU''''' or '''''SVU''''') is an American [[police procedural]] [[crime film|crime drama]] television series created by [[Dick Wolf]] for [[NBC]]. The first spin-off of ''[[Law & Order]]'', expanding it into the [[Law & Order (franchise)|''Law & Order'' franchise]], it stars [[Mariska Hargitay]] as Detective (ultimately promoted to Captain) [[Olivia Benson]], now the commanding officer of the [[Special Victims Unit]] after originally having been Stabler's partner in a fictionalized version of the [[New York City Police Department]], and [[Christopher Meloni]] as Detective [[Elliot Stabler]] (until Meloni left the series in 2011 after 12 seasons).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Law & Order: Special Victims Unit - NBC.com |url=https://www.nbc.com/law-and-order-special-victims-unit |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330094241/https://www.nbc.com/law-and-order-special-victims-unit |archive-date=March 30, 2019 |access-date=April 15, 2019}}</ref><ref name="GiddishandPino">{{Cite web |last=Seidman |first=Robert |title=NBC Signs Kelli Giddish (''Chase'') and Danny Pino (''Cold Case'') as New Detectives for ''Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'' |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/06/27/nbc-signs-kelli-giddish-chase-and-danny-pino-cold-case-as-new-detectives-for-law-order-special-victims-unit/96694/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629163026/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/06/27/nbc-signs-kelli-giddish-chase-and-danny-pino-cold-case-as-new-detectives-for-law-order-special-victims-unit/96694/ |archive-date=June 29, 2011 |access-date=June 27, 2011 |website=[[TV by the Numbers]]}}</ref> ''Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'' follows the detectives of the Special Victims Unit as they investigate and prosecute sex-based crimes. Some of the episodes are loosely based on real crimes that have received media attention.

The series, produced by [[Wolf Entertainment]] and [[Universal Television]], premiered on September 20, 1999. After the premiere of its [[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit season 21|21st season]] in September 2019, the series became the [[List of longest-running scripted American primetime television series|longest-running primetime live-action series on American television]].<ref name="The A.V. Club">{{Cite web |date=March 29, 2019 |title=Law & Order: SVU is now officially TV's longest-running primetime live-action series |url=https://www.avclub.com/law-order-svu-is-now-officially-tv-s-longest-running-1833678675 |website=News |access-date=August 29, 2020 |archive-date=August 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803184231/https://news.avclub.com/law-order-svu-is-now-officially-tv-s-longest-running-1833678675 |url-status=live }}</ref> Since the end of the original run of the main ''[[Law & Order]]'' series in 2010, ''SVU'' is the only live-action primetime series having debuted in the 1990s to remain in continuous production.{{efn|''South Park'', which is animated, is the only other scripted comedy/drama show which debuted in the 1990s and has never been out of production since. Other 1990s shows such as ''Will & Grace'' and the original ''Law & Order'' were revived after being out of production for one or more seasons.}} The [[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit season 23|23rd season]] premiered on September 23, 2021,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Petski |first=Denise |date=July 15, 2021 |title=NBC Sets Fall Premiere Dates: New 'Ordinary Joe', 'La Brea', Returning 'Chicago', 'Law & Order'; 'The Blacklist' Moves To Thursdays |url=https://deadline.com/2021/07/nbc-sets-fall-premiere-dates-ordinary-joe-la-brea-chicago-law-order-the-blacklist-thursdays-1234793922/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019020546/https://deadline.com/2021/07/nbc-sets-fall-premiere-dates-ordinary-joe-la-brea-chicago-law-order-the-blacklist-thursdays-1234793922/ |archive-date=October 19, 2021 |access-date=July 16, 2021 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref> during which the show aired its milestone 500th episode.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lawler |first=Kelly |date=October 21, 2021 |title=Spoiler alert! 'Law & Order: SVU' 500th episode dives into Benson's past, as former stars return |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2021/10/22/law-order-svu-500th-episode-dives-into-bensons-past/8525518002/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022170419/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2021/10/22/law-order-svu-500th-episode-dives-into-bensons-past/8525518002/ |archive-date=October 22, 2021 |access-date=October 23, 2021 |work=USA Today}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> As of May 15, 2025, ''Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'' has aired 573 original episodes, well surpassing the [[List of Law & Order episodes|episode count of the original ''Law & Order'' series]]. In terms of all-time episode count for a primetime scripted series, ''SVU'' now ranks fourth behind ''[[The Simpsons]]'' (with 785 episodes), ''[[Gunsmoke]]'' (with 635 episodes), and ''[[Lassie (1954 TV series)|Lassie]]'' (with 591 episodes).<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Roots |first=Kimberly |date=October 21, 2021 |title=Law & Order: SVU Episode 500 Recap: You've Come a Long Way, Benson |publisher=TV Line |url=https://tvline.com/2021/10/21/law-order-svu-episode-500-recap-youve-come-a-long-way-benson/ |access-date=October 23, 2021 |archive-date=October 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023002508/https://tvline.com/2021/10/21/law-order-svu-episode-500-recap-youve-come-a-long-way-benson/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The 25th season premiered on January 18, 2024,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roots |first=Kimberly |date=April 10, 2023 |title=''Law & Order'', ''SVU'' and ''Organized Crime'' Renewed at NBC |url=https://tvline.com/2023/04/10/law-and-order-svu-renewed-season-25-nbc/ |access-date=April 10, 2023 |website=[[TVLine]] |archive-date=April 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410180022/https://tvline.com/2023/04/10/law-and-order-svu-renewed-season-25-nbc/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2023/11/nbc-midseason-premiere-dates-chicago-law-order-night-court-1235630079/|title=NBC Sets Midseason 2024 Premiere Dates|work=Deadline Hollywood|first=Nellie|last=Andreeva|date=November 20, 2023|access-date=November 20, 2023|archive-date=November 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231120190422/https://deadline.com/2023/11/nbc-midseason-premiere-dates-chicago-law-order-night-court-1235630079/|url-status=live}}</ref> and on March 21, 2024, NBC announced that it had renewed the series for its [[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit season 26|26th season]], which premiered on October 3, 2024.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.masslive.com/tv/2024/10/how-to-watch-law-order-svu-season-26-premiere-for-free.html|title=How to watch 'Law & Order: SVU' season 26 premiere for free|first=Ariana|last=Tourangeau|publisher=MassLive|date=October 3, 2024|accessdate=October 3, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=''Law & Order'' & ''Law & Order: SVU'' Renewed At NBC, ''Law & Order: Organized Crime'' In Limbo|url=https://deadline.com/2024/03/law-and-order-svu-renewed-nbc-law-and-order-organized-crime-limbo-1235864770/|last=White|first=Peter|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|date=March 21, 2024|access-date=March 21, 2024}}</ref> In May 2025, the series was renewed for a 27th season.

The series has received [[List of awards and nominations received by Law & Order: Special Victims Unit|108 award nominations, winning 59 awards]]. Hargitay was the first regular cast member on any ''Law & Order'' series to win an [[Emmy Awards|Emmy Award]] when she won the [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series]] in 2006.
{{TOC limit|3}}

==Premise==
{{quote box|width=35%|align=left|quote=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.|source=– Opening narration spoken by [[Steven Zirnkilton]]<ref name="Payback" />}}

Based out of the NYPD [[New York City Police Department]]'s 16th precinct in Manhattan, ''Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'' delves into the dark side of the New York underworld as the detectives of a new elite squad, the [[Special Victims Unit]] (SVU for short), investigate and prosecute various sexually oriented crimes, including rape, child sexual abuse, human trafficking and domestic violence. They also investigate the abuses of children, the disabled and elderly victims of non-sexual crimes who require specialist handling, all while trying to balance the effects of the investigation on their own lives as they try not to let the dark side of these crimes affect them.

Its stories also touch on the political and societal issues associated with gender identity, sexual preferences, and equality rights. While the victim is often murdered, this is not always the case, and victims frequently play prominent roles in episodes. The unit also works with the Manhattan District Attorney's office as they prosecute cases and seek justice for SVU's victims and survivors with precision and a passion to win and bring closure to the intense investigations. The series often uses stories that are "ripped from the headlines" or based on real crimes. Such episodes take a real crime and fictionalize it by changing some details.<ref name="NPR 2009-09-29">{{Cite news |last=Conan |first=Neal |author-link=Neal Conan |date=September 29, 2009 |title='Law & Order' Writer Turns Headlines Into TV |work=[[Talk of the Nation]] |publisher=[[NPR]] |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113308543 |url-status=live |access-date=December 14, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111129200705/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113308543 |archive-date=November 29, 2011}}</ref>

==Cast and characters==
{{main|List of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit characters|l1=List of ''Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'' characters}}
{{multiple issues|section=yes|
 {{more citations needed section|date=February 2025}}
 {{original research|section|date=February 2025}}
}}

Originally, the show focused around the detective pairing of [[Elliot Stabler]] ([[Christopher Meloni]]) and [[Olivia Benson]] ([[Mariska Hargitay]]). Stabler is a seasoned veteran of the unit who has seen it all and tries his best to protect his family from the horrors he has seen in his career. Meanwhile, Benson's difficult past as the child of a rape victim is the reason she joined the unit. Backing them up are Detective [[John Munch]] ([[Richard Belzer]]) and his first partner, [[Brian Cassidy]] ([[Dean Winters]]). Munch is a transfer from Baltimore's homicide unit, who brings his acerbic wit, conspiracy theories, and street-honed investigative skills; Cassidy is young and eager to learn from his fellow detectives.

These two detective teams received support from Detectives [[Monique Jeffries]] ([[Michelle Hurd]]) and Ken Briscoe (Chris Orbach).<ref name="Payback">{{Cite episode |title=Payback |series=Law & Order: Special Victims Unit |network=NBC |date=September 20, 1999 |season=1 |number=1 |credits=Writer: [[Dick Wolf]]. Director: [[Jean de Segonzac]]}}</ref> After thirteen episodes, Cassidy gets transferred to the narcotics division because of his inability to work well on the cases and the fact that they reminded him too much of his childhood abuse. As a result, Jeffries gets partnered up with Munch for the remainder of season one and Briscoe was phased out.

In the beginning of season two, Jeffries leaves the unit following an incident with the Morris Commission and Munch gets permanently partnered up with Detective [[Fin Tutuola|Odafin "Fin" Tutuola]] ([[Ice-T]]), whose unique yet sometimes vulgar sense of humor and investigative experience make him a formidable match for Munch.<ref name="Limitations">{{Cite episode |title=Limitations |series=Law & Order: Special Victims Unit |network=NBC |date=February 11, 2000 |season=1 |number=14 |credits=Writer: [[Michael R. Perry]]. Director: [[Constantine Makris]]}}</ref>

Brooklyn SVU Detective [[Chester Lake (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit)|Chester Lake]] ([[Adam Beach]]) would assist on several Manhattan cases during the eighth season and then join during season nine; Lake would then depart at the season's end after being arrested for murdering a crooked cop who had gotten away with rape.

These detectives were supervised by veteran Captain [[Donald Cragen]] ([[Dann Florek]]), who oversaw the team for seasons 1–15 and was previously the commanding officer of the Manhattan North Homicide precinct on the first 3 seasons of ''[[Law & Order]]''. Cragen's tough-but-supportive approach to the team's complex cases guides the squad through the challenges they face every day.

Also assisting the Special Victims Unit, is FBI Special Agent Dr. George Huang	([[BD Wong]]) who helps keep the officers sane in a field that could drive ordinary people mad, whilst also serving as the squad's resident criminal profiler, his insights into the criminal mind have often helped the officers to crack the toughest perps. The team also works with [[Office of Chief Medical Examiner of the City of New York|Medical Examiner]] Dr. Melinda Warner ([[Tamara Tunie]]), who has become an integral part of the unit, and her personal skills have contributed to the unit's high success rate in closing cases.{{citation needed|date=October 2019}}

The unit did not receive a full-time assistant district attorney until season two, when [[Alexandra Cabot]]	([[Stephanie March]]) was assigned to work with the detectives.<ref name="Wrong is Right">{{Cite episode |title=Wrong is Right |series=Law & Order: Special Victims Unit |network=NBC |date=October 20, 2000 |season=2 |number=1 |credits=Writers: Jeff Eckerle & [[David J. Burke]]. Director: [[Ted Kotcheff]]}}</ref> After Cabot enters the Witness Protection Program after almost being killed in a hit in season five, she was replaced by [[Casey Novak]] ([[Diane Neal]]), who remained as the ADA until the end of season nine, when she was censured for violating due process while trying to bring a rapist cop (the same one that Lake would end up murdering) to justice. [[Kim Greylek]] ([[Michaela McManus]]) became the permanent ADA in the season ten premiere, until Cabot made a return midway through that season when Greylek returned to the Justice Department in Washington, D.C. Cabot remained the ADA through the second half of season 10.

After Cabot's departure, the ADA void was filled by Sonya Paxton ([[Christine Lahti]]) and Jo Marlowe ([[Sharon Stone]]) until the conclusion of season 11. Gillian Hardwicke ([[Melissa Sagemiller]]) served as the SVU's ADA during season 12, while Novak would return for a guest appearance after completing her suspension near the end of the season. Paxton would also return for one more appearance in the season, during which she is brutally murdered by a rapist/murderer, but manages to leave behind vital evidence to assure his conviction. In season 13, both Cabot and Novak returned as ADAs. From the beginning of season 14, ADA [[Rafael Barba]] ([[Raúl Esparza]]) was SVU's prosecutor, until leaving halfway through season 19 following the death of an infant.

''[[Chicago Justice]]''{{'}}s [[Peter Stone (Chicago and Law & Order character)|Peter Stone]] ([[Philip Winchester]]) became SVU's ADA after ''[[Chicago Justice]]'' was canceled after only one season. At the end of season 20, Stone decided to leave due to some of the cases being too much for him to handle. From there, former SVU Detective [[Dominick Carisi Jr.]]	([[Peter Scanavino]]) takes his place at the start of season 21.<ref name="I'm Going to Make You a Star">{{Cite episode |title=I'm Going to Make You a Start |series=Law & Order: Special Victims Unit |network=NBC |date=September 26, 2019 |season=21 |number=1 |credits=Writers: Warren Leight & Peter Blauner. Director: Norberto Barba}}</ref>

In season 13, big changes happen when Stabler retires in the aftermath of the season 12 finale, until he reappeared in season 22, which led him to join NYPD's Organized Crime Control Bureau in ''[[Law & Order: Organized Crime]]''. Huang also departed at the same time after being reassigned to Oklahoma City, but has returned for occasional guest appearances. Detectives [[Nick Amaro]] ([[Danny Pino]]) and [[Amanda Rollins]] ([[Kelli Giddish]]) joined the team filling the void left by Stabler. Amaro brought empathy to his cases while dealing with a stressful home life, while Rollins had dogged persistence and instincts help her close cases, but also secrets from her past that could derail her career.

During season 15, both Munch and Cragen retired from the NYPD, leaving Benson, after being promoted to Sergeant, to take control of the unit; she would later be promoted to Lieutenant at the start of season 17 and then Captain at the start of season 21. Season 16 was another period of change with the introduction of Carisi at the beginning and the departure of Amaro at the end, with the latter relocating to California to be near his moved children after being wounded in the line of duty and learning that previous instances of misconduct have cost him any chance for advancement in the department. Also introduced in season 16 was Deputy Chief William Dodds ([[Peter Gallagher]]), who served as commanding officer for the Special Victims Units in all five boroughs of New York. Dodds' son Mike ([[Andy Karl]]) transfers into Special Victims as Sergeant in season 17, becoming Benson's second-in-command until his death at the end of the season; Fin later passes the Sergeant's exam during season 18 and is officially promoted in Mike's place in season 19.

Following Carisi's move to the DA's office in season 21, Vice Officer Katriona "Kat" Tamin ([[Jamie Gray Hyder]]) joined the team after assisting on several cases, eventually getting promoted to detective. Dodds also departed the series at the start of the season due to some issues in the case regarding a mogul raping countless women, allowing new deputy chief Christian Garland ([[Demore Barnes]]) to take his place. At the start of season 23, Tamin and Garland both resigned from the NYPD after becoming disillusioned with the legal system's failures and the systemic bias within the department, with Tamin being replaced by Detective Joe Velasco ([[Octavio Pisano]]). Chief Tommy McGrath ([[Terry Serpico]]) took over Garland's position until he could find a permanent deputy chief for SVU.

At the beginning of season 24, Detective Grace Muncy ([[Molly Burnett]]) joined SVU after solving a case that involves a teenage Dominican gang, while Rollins resigned from SVU and the NYPD halfway through the season after accepting an offer from Carisi's old colleague to teach at [[Fordham University]]. SVU also brought in Detectives Terry Bruno ([[Kevin Kane (actor)|Kevin Kane]]) and Tonie Churlish (Jasmine Batchelor) from their Brooklyn counterparts. Muncy later departed at the end of the season to work on a DEA task force and Churlish also left during the same time. In season 25, McGrath was replaced as chief after crossing multiple lines in his interference with his daughter's rape case, and IAB Captain Renee Curry (Aime Donna Kelly) joined SVU in hopes of making changes. Shortly afterwards, FBI agent Shannah Sykes ([[Jordana Spiro]]) was put on loan to SVU after helping them rescue abducted girl Maddie Flynn.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nbc.com/nbc-insider/law-order-svu-about-agent-shannah-sykes-played-by-jordana-spiro|title=All About SVU's New Agent and Where You've Seen Her Before on the Show|first=Jessica|last=White|publisher=NBC.com|date=February 22, 2024|access-date=February 23, 2024|archive-date=February 23, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240223091530/https://www.nbc.com/nbc-insider/law-order-svu-about-agent-shannah-sykes-played-by-jordana-spiro|url-status=live}}</ref> Sykes later left SVU at the season's end after solving the case of her missing sister, which ended up hitting her too close to home, and at the start of season 26, former Homicide detective Kate Silva ([[Juliana Aidén Martinez]]) joins the unit. Additionally, Rollins, after consulting on several cases following her departure, returns to the NYPD with a promotion to Sergeant and assignment as CO of the department's Intelligence Unit.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%;"
|-
! class="unsortable" rowspan="2"|Character !! class="unsortable" rowspan="2"|Portrayed by !! class="unsortable" rowspan="2"|Position !! rowspan="1" colspan="26"|Seasons !! rowspan="2" style="width:5%;"| {{Abbr|#Ep|Number of episodes credited}}
|-
!! class="unsortable" style="width:2.5%;"|[[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit season 1|1]] !! class="unsortable" style="width:2.5%;"|[[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit season 2|2]] !! class="unsortable" style="width:2.5%;"|[[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit season 3|3]] !! class="unsortable" style="width:2.5%;"|[[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit season 4|4]] !! class="unsortable" style="width:2.5%;"|[[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit season 5|5]] !! class="unsortable" style="width:2.5%;"|[[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit season 6|6]] !! class="unsortable" style="width:2.5%;"|[[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit season 7|7]] !! class="unsortable" style="width:2.5%;"|[[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit season 8|8]] !! class="unsortable" style="width:2.5%;"|[[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit season 9|9]] !! class="unsortable" style="width:2.5%;"|[[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit season 10|10]] !! class="unsortable" style="width:2.5%;"|[[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit season 11|11]] !! class="unsortable" style="width:2.5%;"|[[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit season 12|12]] !! class="unsortable" style="width:2.5%;"|[[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit season 13|13]] !! class="unsortable" style="width:2.5%;"|[[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit season 14|14]] !! class="unsortable" style="width:2.5%;"| [[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit season 15|15]] !! class="unsortable" style="width:2.5%;"| [[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit season 16|16]] !! class="unsortable" style="width:2.5%;"| [[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit season 17|17]] !! class="unsortable" style="width:2.5%;"| [[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit season 18|18]] !! class="unsortable" style="width:2.5%;"| [[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit season 19|19]] !! class="unsortable" style="width:2.5%;"| [[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit season 20|20]] !! class="unsortable" style="width:2.5%;"| [[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit season 21|21]] !! class="unsortable" style="width:2.5%;" | [[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit season 22|22]] !! class="unsortable" style="width:2.5%;" | [[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit season 23|23]] !! class="unsortable" style="width:2.5%;"| [[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit season 24|24]] !! class="unsortable" style="width:2.5%;"| [[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit season 25|25]] !! class="unsortable" style="width:2.5%;"| [[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit season 26|26]]
|-
| style="background: #ffe3e3"|'''[[Elliot Stabler]]''' || {{nowrap|[[Christopher Meloni]]}} || Sr. Detective || colspan="12" {{cMain|Main}} || colspan="9" {{cNone}} || colspan="3" {{cRecurring|Recurring}} || colspan="2" {{cGuest|{{Abbr|G|Guest}}}} || style="background:#ececec;"| '''279'''
|-
| style="background:#dfd;"| '''[[Olivia Benson]]''' || {{nowrap|[[Mariska Hargitay]]}} || Jr. Detective <small>(S1–12)</small><br/>{{nowrap|Sr.&nbsp;Detective <small>(S13–15)</small>}}<br/>Sergeant <small>(S15–17)</small><br/>Lieutenant <small>(S17–21)</small><br/>Captain <small>(S21–)</small> || colspan="26" {{cMain|Main}} || style="background:#ececec;" | '''573'''
|-
| '''[[John Munch]]''' || [[Richard Belzer]] || Sr. Detective <small>(S1–8)</small><br />Sergeant <small>(S9–15)</small> || colspan="15" {{cMain|Main}} || {{cNone}} || {{CGuest|{{Abbr|G|Guest}}}} || colspan="9" {{cNone}} || style="background:#ececec;" | '''326'''
|-
| '''[[Donald Cragen]]''' || [[Dann Florek]] || Captain <small>(S1–15)</small>|| colspan="15" {{cMain|Main}} || {{CGuest|{{Abbr|G|Guest}}}} || colspan="6" {{cNone}} || {{CGuest|{{Abbr|G|Guest}}}} || colspan=3 {{cNone}} || style="background:#ececec;" | '''332'''
|-

| {{nowrap|'''[[Monique Jeffries]]'''}} || [[Michelle Hurd]] || Jr. Detective || colspan="2" {{CMain|{{Abbr|M|Main}}}} || colspan="24" {{cNone}} || style="background:#ececec;" | '''25'''
|-

| {{nowrap|'''[[Alexandra Cabot]]'''}} || {{nowrap|[[Stephanie March]]}} || {{nowrap|Assistant DA}} || {{cNone}} || colspan="4" {{cMain|Main}} || {{CGuest|{{Abbr|G|Guest}}}} || colspan="3" {{cNone}} || {{CRecurring|{{Abbr|R|Recurring}}}} || {{CMain|{{Abbr|M|Main}}}} || {{cNone}} || {{CRecurring|{{Abbr|R|Recurring}}}} || colspan="5" {{cNone}} || {{CGuest|{{Abbr|G|Guest}}}} || colspan="7" {{cNone}} || style="background:#ececec;" | '''97'''
|-

| style="background:#dfd;"| '''[[Fin Tutuola]]''' || [[Ice-T]] || Jr. Detective <small>(S2–8)</small><br/>Sr. Detective <small>(S9–19)</small><br/>Sergeant <small>(S19–)</small> || {{cNone}} || colspan="25" {{cMain|Main}} || style="background:#ececec;" | '''551'''
|-
| '''[[George Huang (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit)|George Huang]]''' || [[BD Wong]] || Psychiatrist <small>(S2–15)</small> || {{cNone}} || colspan="2" {{CRecurring|{{Abbr|R|Recurring}}}} || colspan="9" {{cMain|Main}} || colspan="3" {{cGuest|Guest}} || {{cNone}} || {{CGuest|{{Abbr|G|Guest}}}} || colspan="9" {{cNone}} || style="background:#ececec;" | '''230'''
|-
| '''[[Casey Novak]]''' || [[Diane Neal]] || {{nowrap|Assistant DA}} || colspan="4" {{cNone}} || colspan="5" {{cMain|Main}} || colspan="2" {{cNone}} || {{CGuest|{{Abbr|G|Guest}}}} || {{CRecurring|{{Abbr|R|Recurring}}}} || colspan="13" {{cNone}} || style="background:#ececec;" | '''112'''
|-
| '''[[Melinda Warner]]''' || [[Tamara Tunie]] || Chief Medical Examiner || {{cNone}} || colspan="5" {{cRecurring|Recurring}} || colspan="6" {{cMain|Main}} || colspan="5" {{cRecurring|Recurring}} || {{cNone}} || {{CGuest|{{Abbr|G|Guest}}}} || {{cNone}} || colspan="3" {{cGuest|Guest}} || colspan="3" {{cNone}} || style="background:#ececec;" | '''226'''
|-
| '''[[Chester Lake (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit)|Chester Lake]]''' || [[Adam Beach]] || Jr. Detective || colspan="7" {{cNone}} || {{CRecurring|{{Abbr|R|Recurring}}}} || {{CMain|{{Abbr|M|Main}}}} || colspan="17" {{cNone}} || style="background:#ececec; color:black;" | '''21'''
|-
| '''[[Kim Greylek]]''' || {{nowrap|[[Michaela McManus]]}} || {{nowrap|Assistant DA}} || colspan="9" {{cNone}} || {{CMain|{{Abbr|M|Main}}}} || colspan="16" {{cNone}} || style="background:#ececec;" | '''22'''
|-
| '''[[Nick Amaro]]''' || [[Danny Pino]] || Jr. Detective || colspan="12" {{cNone}} || colspan="4" {{cMain|Main}} || colspan="6" {{cNone}} || {{CGuest|{{Abbr|G|Guest}}}} || colspan="3" {{cNone}} || style="background:#ececec;" | '''95'''
|-
| style="background: #dfd"|'''[[Amanda Rollins]]''' || [[Kelli Giddish]] || Jr. Detective <small>(S13–21)</small><br/>Sr. Detective <small>(S21–24)</small><br/>Sergeant <small>(S26)</small> || colspan="12" {{cNone}} || colspan="12" {{cMain|Main}} || {{CGuest|{{Abbr|G|Guest}}}} || {{cRecurring|{{Abbr|R|Recurring}}}} || style="background:#ececec;" | '''228'''
|-
| '''[[Rafael Barba]]''' || [[Raúl Esparza]] || Assistant DA <small>(S14–19)</small><br>Defense Attorney <small>(S21–23)</small> || colspan="13" {{cNone}} || {{CRecurring|{{Abbr|R|Recurring}}}} || colspan="5" {{cMain|Main}} || {{cNone}} || colspan="3" {{cGuest|Guest}} || colspan="3" {{cNone}} || style="background:#ececec;" | '''118'''
|-
| style="background:#dfd; white-space:nowrap;" | '''[[Dominick Carisi Jr.|Dominick Carisi]]''' || [[Peter Scanavino]] || Jr. Detective <small>(S16–20)</small><br>Assistant DA <small>(S21–)</small> || colspan="15" {{cNone}} || colspan="11" {{cMain|Main}} || style="background:#ececec;" | '''229'''
|-
| style=white-space:nowrap | '''[[Peter Stone (Chicago Justice and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit)|Peter Stone]]''' || [[Philip Winchester]] || Assistant DA || colspan="18" {{cNone}} || colspan="2" {{CMain|{{Abbr|M|Main}}}} || colspan="6" {{cNone}} || style="background:#ececec;"| '''36'''
|-
| style=white-space:nowrap | '''Katriona Tamin''' || [[Jamie Gray Hyder]] || Officer <small>(S21–22)</small><br />Jr. Detective <small>(S22–23)</small>|| colspan="20" {{cNone}} || colspan="3" {{cMain|Main}} || colspan="3" {{cNone}} || style="background:#ececec;" | '''36'''
|-
| style=white-space:nowrap | '''Christian Garland''' || [[Demore Barnes]] || Deputy Chief || colspan="20" {{cNone}} || {{CRecurring|{{Abbr|R|Recurring}}}} || colspan="2" {{CMain|{{Abbr|M|Main}}}} || colspan="3" {{cNone}} || style="background:#ececec;" | '''25'''
|-
| '''Joe Velasco''' || [[Octavio Pisano]] || Jr. Detective || colspan="22" {{cNone}} || colspan="4" {{CMain|Main}} || style="background:#ececec;" | '''76'''
|-
| style=white-space:nowrap| '''Grace Muncy''' || [[Molly Burnett]] || Jr. Detective || colspan="23" {{cNone}} || colspan="1" {{CMain|{{Abbr|M|Main}}}} || colspan="2" {{cNone}} || style="background:#ececec;" | '''21'''
|-
| style="background:#dfd;"| '''Terry Bruno''' ||[[Kevin Kane (actor)|Kevin Kane]] || Jr. Detective || colspan=23 {{cNone}} || colspan=2 {{CRecurring|{{Abbr|R|Recurring}}}} || colspan=1 {{cMain|{{Abbr|M|Main}}}} ||style="background:#ececec;" | '''41'''
|-
| '''Kate Silva''' || {{nowrap|[[Juliana Aidén Martinez]]}} || Jr. Detective || colspan=25 {{cNone}} || colspan=1 {{cMain|{{Abbr|M|Main}}}} ||style="background:#ececec;" | '''22'''
|}

==Production==

===Development===
[[File:DickWolfJan10.jpg|thumb|Dick Wolf (pictured in 2010), the creator and executive producer of ''Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'']]
The idea for ''Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'' originated with the 1986 "preppie murder" case of [[Robert Chambers (criminal)|Robert Chambers]], who strangled and killed a woman he dated, Jennifer Levin, during [[rough sex murder defense|what he claimed was consensual "rough sex"]] in [[Manhattan]]'s [[Central Park]]. The crime inspired [[Dick Wolf]] to write the story for the [[Law & Order (season 1)|season one]] episode of ''[[Law & Order]]'' titled "[[Kiss the Girls and Make Them Die (Law & Order)|Kiss the Girls and Make Them Die]]". After writing the episode, Wolf wanted to go deeper into the psychology of crimes to examine the role of [[human sexuality]].<ref name="Green and Dawn 2">Green and Dawn (2009), p.&nbsp;2</ref>

The original title of the show was ''Sex Crimes.'' Initially, there was concern among the producers that, should ''Sex Crimes'' fail, identifying the new show with the ''Law & Order'' franchise could affect the original show. Additionally, [[Ted Kotcheff]] wanted to create a new series that was not dependent upon the original series for success. Wolf felt, however, that it was important and commercially desirable to have "Law & Order" in the title, and he initially proposed the title of the show be ''Law & Order: Sex Crimes''. [[Barry Diller]], then head of [[Studios USA]], was concerned about the title, however, and it was changed to ''Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'' to reflect the actual unit of the [[New York City Police Department]] (NYPD) that handles sexually-based offenses.<ref name="Green and Dawn 10-11">Green and Dawn (2009), pp.&nbsp;10–11</ref>

Executive producer [[Neal Baer]] left ''Law & Order: SVU'' as [[showrunner]] at the end of [[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (season 12)|season twelve]], after eleven years (seasons 2–12) on the show, in order to sign a three-year deal with [[CBS Television Studios|CBS Studios]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=November 23, 2010 |title='Law & Order: SVU' Show-runner Neal Baer Signs Big Overall Deal With CBS TV Studios |work=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |url=https://deadline.com/2010/11/law-order-svu-showrunner-nael-bear-signs-big-overall-deal-with-cbs-tv-studios-86460/ |url-status=live |access-date=November 24, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101125225339/http://www.deadline.com/2010/11/law-order-svu-showrunner-nael-bear-signs-big-overall-deal-with-cbs-tv-studios/ |archive-date=November 25, 2010}}</ref> Baer was replaced by former ''[[Law & Order: Criminal Intent]]'' showrunner [[Warren Leight]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ausiello |first=Michael |date=April 11, 2011 |title=Scoop: NBC Taps New Law & Order: SVU Boss |work=[[TVLine]] |url=http://www.tvline.com/2011/04/law-order-svu-boss-warren-leight-13th-season/ |url-status=live |access-date=April 11, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110412191737/http://www.tvline.com/2011/04/law-order-svu-boss-warren-leight-13th-season/ |archive-date=April 12, 2011}}</ref> In March 2015, it was announced that Warren Leight signed a three-year deal with [[Sony Pictures Television]], that will allow him to work on ''SVU'' one more season, its seventeenth.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Littleton |first=Cynthia |date=March 13, 2015 |title='Law & Order: SVU' Showrunner Warren Leight Sets Overall Deal with Sony TV (EXCLUSIVE) |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |url=https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/law-order-svu-showrunner-warren-leight-sets-overall-deal-with-sony-tv-exclusive-1201451967/ |url-status=live |access-date=May 11, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150514234247/http://variety.com/2015/tv/news/law-order-svu-showrunner-warren-leight-sets-overall-deal-with-sony-tv-exclusive-1201451967/ |archive-date=May 14, 2015}}</ref> It was announced on March 10, 2016, that original ''Law & Order'' veteran producer Rick Eid would take Leight's place as showrunner starting in season 18. Creator Dick Wolf commented to ''The Hollywood Reporter'', "I'm extremely pleased that Rick had decided to rejoin the family and hope that he will be here for years to come."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Stanhope |first=Kate |date=March 10, 2016 |title='Law & Order: SVU' Taps Flagship Series Vet as New Showrunner |work=The Hollywood Reporter |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/law-order-svu-taps-flagship-874434 |url-status=live |access-date=March 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315120519/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/law-order-svu-taps-flagship-874434 |archive-date=March 15, 2016}}</ref> During post-production of season 18, following the announcement that ''SVU'' was renewed for a nineteenth season, it was revealed that Rick Eid departed the series. He will be taking over another Dick Wolf/NBC series, ''Chicago P.D.''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=May 12, 2017 |title='Law & Order: SVU' Showrunner Rick Eid to Run 'Chicago P.D.' Next Season |url=https://deadline.com/2017/05/rick-eid-leavelaw-order-svu-new-chicago-pd-showrunner-1202092681/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170515214038/http://deadline.com/2017/05/rick-eid-leavelaw-order-svu-new-chicago-pd-showrunner-1202092681/ |archive-date=May 15, 2017 |access-date=May 13, 2017 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}</ref>

It was announced on May 25, 2017, that original ''Law & Order'' and ''Law & Order: Criminal Intent'' showrunner [[Michael S. Chernuchin]] would be reprising his role starting on season nineteen. Chernuchin was also co-creator and executive producing showrunner of ''[[Chicago Justice]]'', another Wolf-related show that was canceled by NBC at the end of the 2016–17 TV season.<ref name="ChernuchinSVU">{{Cite web |last=Otterson |first=Joe |date=May 25, 2017 |title='Law and Order: SVU' Taps 'Chicago Justice' EP Michael Chernuchin as New Showrunner |url=https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/law-order-svu-new-showrunner-michael-chernuchin-1202445137/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170529133433/http://variety.com/2017/tv/news/law-order-svu-new-showrunner-michael-chernuchin-1202445137/ |archive-date=May 29, 2017 |access-date=May 27, 2017 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}</ref> On April 22, 2019, it was announced that Leight would return as showrunner for the series' twenty-first season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=April 22, 2019 |title=Warren Leight Returns to ''Law & Order: SVU'' as Showrunner, Michael Chernuchin Joins ''FBI'' as EP, Inks Overall Deal with Universal TV |url=https://deadline.com/2019/04/warren-leight-returns-law-order-svu-showrunner-michael-chernuchin-fbi-ep-overall-deal-with-universal-tv-1202600056/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190423153643/https://deadline.com/2019/04/warren-leight-returns-law-order-svu-showrunner-michael-chernuchin-fbi-ep-overall-deal-with-universal-tv-1202600056/ |archive-date=April 23, 2019 |access-date=April 23, 2019 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |location=United States}}</ref> On May 3, 2022, Leight announced that he would not be returning for the twenty-fourth season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Crosbie |first=Eve |date=May 5, 2022 |title=Law and Order: SVU fans 'devastated' as show announces huge change ahead of Season 24 |url=https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/20220505139467/law-and-order-svu-fans-saddened-huge-change-season-24/ |access-date=May 5, 2022 |website=[[HELLO!]] |archive-date=May 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220505115828/https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/20220505139467/law-and-order-svu-fans-saddened-huge-change-season-24/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In May 2025, NBC renewed the series for its twenty-seventh season;<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sederstrom |first1=Jill |title=Both ''Law & Order'' and ''Special Victims Unit'' Renewed for 2025–2026 Season By NBC |url=https://www.nbc.com/nbc-insider/law-and-order-season-25-special-victims-unit-27-renewed-2025-2026-nbc |access-date=May 8, 2025 |agency=[[NBC Insider]] |publisher=[[NBCUniversal Media]] |date=May 8, 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250508215118/https://www.nbc.com/nbc-insider/law-and-order-season-25-special-victims-unit-27-renewed-2025-2026-nbc |archive-date=May 8, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Otterson |first1=Joe |title=''Law & Order'', ''Law & Order: SVU'' Renewed at NBC |url=https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/law-and-order-law-and-order-svu-renewed-nbc-1236391162/ |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |publisher=[[Penske Media Corporation]] |access-date=May 8, 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250508191630/https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/law-and-order-law-and-order-svu-renewed-nbc-1236391162/ |archive-date=May 8, 2025 |issn=0042-2738 |oclc=60626328 |date=May 8, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Andreeva |first1=Nellie |title=''Law & Order: SVU'' and ''Law & Order'' Renewed for 2025–2026 After Combined 50 Seasons On NBC |url=https://deadline.com/2025/05/law-amp-order-svu-law-amp-order-renewed-nbc-2025-26-season-1236390251/ |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |publisher=[[Penske Media Corporation]] |access-date=May 8, 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250508190734/https://deadline.com/2025/05/law-amp-order-svu-law-amp-order-renewed-nbc-2025-26-season-1236390251/ |archive-date=May 8, 2025 |date=May 8, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> Michele Fazekas will serve as the show's showrunner, becoming the first woman to serve as showrunner for ''Special Victims Unit''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2025/04/law-order-svu-michele-fazekas-showrunner-season-27-renewal-1236355519/|title='Law & Order: SVU' Makes History, Naming Michele Fazekas Showrunner As NBC Drama Eyes Season 27|first=Nelle|last=Andreeva|publisher=Deadline Hollywood|date=April 1, 2025|access-date=April 18, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250401164533/https://deadline.com/2025/04/law-order-svu-michele-fazekas-showrunner-season-27-renewal-1236355519/|archive-date=April 1, 2025|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Casting===
[[File:SVU crime scene set 2 season 12.jpg|thumb|[[Mariska Hargitay]], [[Christopher Meloni]] and [[Ice-T]] during filming of the 12th season]]
Casting for the lead characters of ''Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'' occurred in the spring of 1999. Dick Wolf, along with officials from NBC and Studios USA were at the final auditions for the two leads at [[Rockefeller Center]]. The last round had been narrowed down to seven finalists. For the female lead, Detective [[Olivia Benson]], actresses [[Samantha Mathis]], [[Reiko Aylesworth]], and [[Mariska Hargitay]] were being considered. For the male role, Detective [[Elliot Stabler]], the finalists were [[Tim Matheson]], [[John Slattery]], [[Nick Chinlund]], and [[Christopher Meloni]]. Hargitay and Meloni had auditioned in the final round together and, after the actors left, there was a moment of dead silence, after which Wolf blurted out, "Oh well. There's no doubt who we should choose—Hargitay and Meloni." Wolf believed the duo had the perfect chemistry together from the first time he saw them together, and they ended up being his first choice. [[Garth Ancier]], then head of NBC Entertainment, agreed, and the rest of the panel assembled began voicing their assent.<ref name="Green and Dawn 11">Green and Dawn (2009), p.&nbsp;11</ref>

The first actor to be cast for the show was [[Dann Florek]]. Florek had originated the character of Captain [[Donald Cragen|Don Cragen]] in the 1990 pilot for ''Law & Order'', and played the character for the show's first three seasons until he was fired on the orders of network executives, who wanted to add female characters to the all-male primary cast, but he maintained a friendly relationship with Wolf, and went on to direct three episodes of the original series as well as to occasionally guest star on the show. Shortly after Florek reprised his role for ''[[Exiled: A Law & Order Movie]]'', he received a call to be on ''Sex Crimes''.<ref name="Green and Dawn 145-146">Green and Dawn (2009), pp.&nbsp;145–146</ref> Initially reluctant, he eventually agreed to star on the show as Cragen on the assurance that he would not be asked to audition for the role.<ref name="Green and Dawn 13">Green and Dawn (2009), p.&nbsp;13</ref>

Shortly after the cancellation of ''[[Homicide: Life on the Street]]'', [[Richard Belzer]] heard that [[Benjamin Bratt]] had left ''Law & Order''. Belzer requested his manager to call Wolf and pitch the idea for Belzer's character from ''Homicide'', Detective [[John Munch]], to become the new partner of [[Jerry Orbach]]'s character, Detective [[Lennie Briscoe]], since they had previously teamed in three ''Homicide'' crossovers. Wolf loved the idea, but had already cast [[Jesse L. Martin]] as Briscoe's new partner, Detective [[Ed Green (Law & Order)|Ed Green]]. The idea was reconfigured, but to have Munch on ''Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'' instead.<ref name="Green and Dawn 13" /> Since the character of Munch was inspired by [[David Simon]]'s depiction of Detective Sergeant Jay Landsman and developed for ''Homicide'' by [[Tom Fontana]] and [[Barry Levinson]], the addition of Munch to the cast required the consent of all three. The appropriate agreements were reached and, while Fontana and Levinson agreed to waive their royalty rights, contracts with Simon required that he be paid royalties for any new show in which Munch is a main character; as a result, Simon receives royalties every time Munch appears in an episode of the show.<ref name="Green and Dawn 150">Green and Dawn (2009), p.&nbsp;150</ref>

[[Dean Winters]] was cast as Munch's partner, [[Brian Cassidy]], at the insistence of Belzer. Belzer looked at Winters as a sort of little brother, and told Wolf, "Well, I'll do this new show of yours, ''SVU'', only if you make Dean Winters my partner."<ref name="Green and Dawn 13" /> Wolf did make Winters Belzer's partner, but he was contractually obligated to his other show at the time, the [[HBO]] drama ''[[Oz (TV series)|Oz]]''. Since the role on ''Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'' was only initially meant to be a few episodes, Winters was forced to leave when it was time to film ''Oz'' again. Winters returned for the season 13 finale, "[[Rhodium Nights]]", reprising his role as Cassidy. He also appeared (as Cassidy) on the two-part season 14 premiere "[[Lost Reputation]]"/"[[Above Suspicion (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit)|Above Suspicion]]".<ref name="Green and Dawn 157">Green and Dawn (2009), p.&nbsp;157</ref> He subsequently became a recurring character into season 15. The void left by Winters's departure was filled for the remainder of the season by [[Michelle Hurd]] as Detective [[Monique Jeffries]], a character who Wolf promised that, despite starting out as a minor character with one scene in the pilot, would eventually develop. Hurd left the show at the beginning of season two to join the cast of ''[[Leap Years]]''.<ref name="Green and Dawn 154-156">Green and Dawn (2009), pp.&nbsp;154–156</ref> Munch's permanent partner came in the form of [[rapping|rapper]]-turned-actor [[Ice-T]], who had previously worked with Wolf on ''[[New York Undercover]]'' and ''Exiled''. Ice-T originally agreed to do only four episodes of ''Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'', but he quickly gained affection for the ensemble nature of the cast. He relocated to New York City before his four-episode contract was up and remained with the show as Munch's permanent partner, Detective [[Fin Tutuola|Odafin "Fin" Tutuola]].<ref name="Green and Dawn 152-154">Green and Dawn (2009), pp.&nbsp;152–154</ref>

Initially, the show focused exclusively on the police work of the detectives in the Special Victims Unit of the 16th precinct, with members of the District Attorney's office occasionally appearing as guest roles crossing over from the original ''Law & Order''. From season two onwards, the format was changed to be more faithful to the original ''Law & Order'' concept by including court cases. [[Stephanie March]] had little television experience before being cast on ''Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'', nor did she watch much TV. Nevertheless, March was cast as Assistant District Attorney [[Alexandra Cabot]] at the beginning of season two but still believed that, due to the grim nature of the series, it would be short-lived. She stayed with the series for three seasons, however, and left when she believed she had reached the natural conclusion of the character's development. She would later reprise the character as a guest appearance in season six and as a regular character on the short-lived Wolf series, ''[[Conviction (2006 TV series)|Conviction]]'', where she was promised more to do. [[Diane Neal]] had previously guest-starred on ''Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'' in season three before being cast as Cabot's replacement, [[Casey Novak]], in season five. Neal remained with the show through the end of season nine,<ref name="Green and Dawn 167-169">Green and Dawn (2009), pp.&nbsp;167–169</ref> after which she was replaced by [[Michaela McManus]]. March returned to the show in the tenth season (after McManus' departure from the cast) when [[Neal Baer]] proposed Cabot receive a character arc to revitalize the second part of the season, which would continue through season eleven.<ref name="Green and Dawn 165-166">Green and Dawn (2009), pp.&nbsp;165–166</ref><ref name="ten">{{Cite news |last=O'Connor |first=Mickey |date=June 29, 2009 |title=SVU News: Mariska and Meloni Are In For Season 11, and So Is Christine Lahti |work=[[TV Guide]] |url=https://www.tvguide.com/News/SVU-News-Mariska-1007513.aspx |url-status=dead |access-date=June 29, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090802191337/http://www.tvguide.com/News/SVU-News-Mariska-1007513.aspx |archive-date=August 2, 2009}}</ref>

[[Tamara Tunie]] was cast as [[medical examiner]] [[Melinda Warner]] in season two after working with Wolf previously on ''[[New York Undercover]]'', ''[[Feds (TV series)|Feds]]'', and ''Law & Order''. Warner was initially a [[recurring character]] but became a regular character in season seven, and Tunie was added to the opening credits at that time.<ref name="Green and Dawn 172-173">Green and Dawn (2009), pp.&nbsp;172–173</ref> When initially cast as Warner, Tunie was appearing as attorney Jessica Griffin on the [[CBS]] daytime soap opera ''[[As the World Turns]]''. From 2000 to 2007 (and again briefly in 2009), she appeared on both series simultaneously. In 2002, she also appeared on the [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] espionage-themed drama series ''[[24 (TV series)|24]]'', in the recurring role of CTU Acting Director Alberta Green. [[BD Wong]] was asked to film four episodes as Dr. [[George Huang (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit)|George Huang]], a [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] (FBI) [[Forensic psychiatry|forensic psychiatrist]] and [[Offender profiling|criminal profiler]] on loan to the Special Victims Unit. After his four episodes, he was asked to stay on with the show.<ref name="Green and Dawn 175-176">Green and Dawn (2009), pp.&nbsp;175–176</ref>

After he starred in ''[[Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee (film)|Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee]]'' and guest-starred as Detective [[Chester Lake (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit)|Chester Lake]] in the eighth season, Wolf felt that [[Adam Beach]] would be a good addition to the cast and asked him to be a permanent member beginning with the ninth season. Although Beach felt the role was a "dream role", the character proved unpopular with fans who felt that he was designed to gradually write out either Richard Belzer or Ice-T. Feeling there were too many police characters on the show, Beach left the show after only one season.<ref name="Green and Dawn 160-162">Green and Dawn (2009), pp.&nbsp;160–162</ref> [[Michaela McManus]] was originally felt to be too young for the role of an [[District attorney|Assistant District Attorney]] (ADA) before being cast as ADA [[Kim Greylek]] in the tenth season. McManus, months removed from a recurring role on ''[[One Tree Hill (TV series)|One Tree Hill]]'', remained with the series only half a season, however, before departing for unspecified reasons.<ref name="Green and Dawn 170-171">Green and Dawn (2009), pp.&nbsp;170–171</ref>

[[Paula Patton]] joined the cast as [[Kendra Gill|ADA Mikka Von]]. She replaced [[Stephanie March]].<ref name="TVGuidePattonADAVon">{{Cite news |last=O'Connor |first=Mickey |date=July 21, 2010 |title=Precious Star Paula Patton Is Law & Order: SVU's New ADA |work=[[TV Guide]] |url=https://www.tvguide.com/News/Paula-Patton-SVU-1020796.aspx |url-status=live |access-date=July 21, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100722071407/http://www.tvguide.com/News/Paula-Patton-SVU-1020796.aspx |archive-date=July 22, 2010}}</ref> However, Patton dropped out after one episode to film ''[[Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol]]'', and was replaced by [[Melissa Sagemiller]] in the recurring role of ADA [[Gillian Hardwicke]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Ausiello |first=Michael |date=September 10, 2010 |title='Law & Order: SVU' scoop: 'Bar' girl Melissa Sagemiller is new ADA |url=http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2010/09/10/law-order-svu-melissa-sagemiller-is-new-ada/ |url-status=dead |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100911202232/http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2010/09/10/law-order-svu-melissa-sagemiller-is-new-ada/ |archive-date=September 11, 2010 |access-date=September 11, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Rudolph |first=Ileane |date=September 10, 2010 |title=SVU Producer Neal Baer Explains ADA Shakeup |work=[[TV Guide]] |url=https://www.tvguide.com/News/SVU-Producer-Neal-1022845.aspx |url-status=live |access-date=September 11, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100912232955/http://www.tvguide.com/News/SVU-Producer-Neal-1022845.aspx |archive-date=September 12, 2010}}</ref>

Before the end of season twelve, Mariska Hargitay asked for a lighter workload. As a way of writing her out of certain episodes, a plan to have her character promoted to a supervisory role was discussed.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=May 14, 2011 |title=Law & Order: SVU Scoop: Hargitay Inks New Deal, Jennifer Love Hewitt May Succeed Her |work=[[TVLine]] |publisher=TVLine Media, LLC ([[Penske Media Corporation]]) |location=United States |url=http://www.tvline.com/2011/05/exclusive-mariska-hargitay-inks-new-law-order-svu-deal-may-pass-baton-to-jennifer-love-hewitt/ |url-status=live |access-date=May 14, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120121071250/http://www.tvline.com/2011/05/exclusive-mariska-hargitay-inks-new-law-order-svu-deal-may-pass-baton-to-jennifer-love-hewitt/ |archive-date=January 21, 2012}}</ref> At the end of season twelve, Christopher Meloni departed the cast, unable to reach agreement on a new contract. Warren Leight became the new showrunner during this same year and signed on before he knew that Meloni would be leaving the cast.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Porter |first=Rick |date=May 24, 2012 |title='Law & Order: SVU' cliffhanger: EP Warren Leight on what's next for Cragen and the squad |url=http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2012/05/law-order-svu-cliffhanger-ep-warren-leight-on-whats-next-for-cragen-and-the-squad.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120608075000/http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2012/05/law-order-svu-cliffhanger-ep-warren-leight-on-whats-next-for-cragen-and-the-squad.html |archive-date=June 8, 2012 |access-date=June 6, 2012 |publisher=Zap2It}}</ref> The second major departure to be announced in 2011 was that of BD Wong. On July 17, Wong announced on [[Twitter]] that, "I actually do not return for season 13, I am jumping to ''[[Awake (TV series)|Awake]]''! It's awesome!" Wong added, "I don't know if or when I'll be back on ''SVU''! It was amazing to have such a cool job for 11 years and to be a real NY Actor." Wong reprised his role as Dr. Huang in season 13's episode "[[Father Dearest (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit)|Father Dearest]]".<ref name="Wongdepart">{{Cite news |last=Mitovich |first=Matt |date=July 17, 2011 |title=Fall TV Scoop: B.D. Wong Reveals His SVU Fate |work=[[TVLine]] |publisher=TVLine Media, LLC ([[Penske Media Corporation]]) |location=United States |url=http://www.tvline.com/2011/07/svu-bd-wong-wont-return-season-13/ |url-status=live |access-date=July 17, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719204340/http://www.tvline.com/2011/07/svu-bd-wong-wont-return-season-13/ |archive-date=July 19, 2011}}</ref>
[[File:Law and Order SVU.png|thumb|[[Danny Pino]] and Hargitay during the filming of the 13th season]]
In June 2011, it was announced that [[Kelli Giddish]] and [[Danny Pino]] would join the cast as new series regulars.<ref name=GiddishandPino/> Weeks later, it was announced that Stephanie March and Diane Neal would be reprising their roles as ADA Alexandra Cabot and ADA Casey Novak, respectively.<ref name="MarchandNeal">{{Cite web |last=Ausiello |first=Michael |date=July 5, 2011 |title=Law & Order: SVU Scoop: Stephanie March, Diane Neal Heading Back to Court |url=http://www.tvline.com/2011/07/law-order-svu-stephanie-march-diane-neal/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150221233510/http://tvline.com/2011/07/05/law-order-svu-stephanie-march-diane-neal/ |archive-date=February 21, 2015 |access-date=July 5, 2011 |website=[[TVLine]] |publisher=TVLine Media, LLC ([[Penske Media Corporation]]) |location=United States}}</ref> The launch of season 13 was marked with a retooling of the show that Warren Leight referred to as "SVU 2.0".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bryant |first=Adam |title=Law & Order: SVU's New Boss on Meloni's Exit, the New Detectives and Rejuvenating the Show |work=[[TV Guide]] |publisher=NTVB Media {{small|(magazine)}} [[CBS Interactive]] ([[CBS Corporation]]) {{small|(digital assets)}}|location=[[New York City]]|date=September 1, 2011|access-date=June 6, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120614130019/http://www.tvguide.com/News/SVU-Warren-Leight-1036932.aspx|archive-date=June 14, 2012|url-status=live |url=https://www.tvguide.com/News/SVU-Warren-Leight-1036932.aspx}}</ref> Changes that accompanied this included Tamara Tunie's being bumped from the main cast to a guest-starring role <!--This will be restored unless you indicate that you have read the latest discussion on the season 13 talk page-->and recurring actor [[Joel de la Fuente]]'s not appearing for the first time since 2002. Of the latter change, Warren Leight said, "those scenes [which featured Fuente] can be dry" and hired [[Gilbert Gottfried]] as a more comedic replacement.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Keck |first=William |title=Gilbert Gottfried to Annoy SVU Cast |url=https://www.tvguide.com/News/Gilbert-Gottfried-SVU-1039055.aspx |website=[[TV Guide]] |publisher=NTVB Media {{small|(magazine)}} [[CBS Interactive]] ([[CBS Corporation]]) {{small|(digital assets)}}|location=[[New York City]]|date=October 26, 2011|access-date=June 21, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208044517/http://www.tvguide.com/News/Gilbert-Gottfried-SVU-1039055.aspx|archive-date=February 8, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>

In season 14, [[Raúl Esparza]] joined the cast in a recurring capacity as ADA [[Rafael Barba]] and prior to the season 15 premiere, Esparza was promoted to a series regular. Also in season 15, Belzer departed the cast in the fifth episode, "Wonderland Story", in which Sgt. Munch retired from the NYPD and took a job in the DA's office as an investigator. Later in the season, Captain Cragen announced his departure from the NYPD, which made newly promoted Sgt. Benson the temporary squad commander. In leaving the cast, Florek ended a 400-episode run as Captain Cragen. In season 16, [[Peter Scanavino]] joined the series, first in a recurring role for episodes 1–3 and then was promoted to the main cast in episode 5, with Kelli Giddish, Danny Pino, Ice-T and Raúl Esparza. On May 20, 2015, it was revealed that Danny Pino would be leaving the cast after the season 16 finale "Surrendering Noah".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lambe |first=Stacy |date=October 21, 2021 |title=Law & Order: SVU' Star Danny Pino on Returning for the 500th Episode |url=https://www.etonline.com/law-order-svu-star-danny-pino-on-returning-for-the-500th-episode-exclusive-174067 |website=[[Entertainment Tonight]] |access-date=February 23, 2023 |archive-date=February 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230223192154/https://www.etonline.com/law-order-svu-star-danny-pino-on-returning-for-the-500th-episode-exclusive-174067 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Stanhope |first=Kate |date=May 20, 2015 |title='Law & Order: SVU' Season Finale Leads to Series Regular Departure |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/law-order-svu-danny-pino-797314/ |access-date=February 23, 2023 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US |archive-date=February 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230223192153/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/law-order-svu-danny-pino-797314/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In August 2017, it was announced that [[Philip Winchester]] would recur in season 19 as ADA [[Peter Stone (Chicago Justice and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit)|Peter Stone]], his character from ''[[Chicago P.D. (TV series)|Chicago P.D.]]'' and ''[[Chicago Justice]]'', who is the son of [[Benjamin Stone (Law & Order character)|Benjamin Stone]], the first ADA on the original ''[[Law & Order]]'' series.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kimberly Roots |date=August 8, 2017 |title=Law & Order SVU: Philip Winchester to Bring Chicago Justice Role to NY |url=http://tvline.com/2017/08/08/law-order-svu-philip-winchester-cast-chicago-justice-peter-stone-season-19/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170811201307/http://tvline.com/2017/08/08/law-order-svu-philip-winchester-cast-chicago-justice-peter-stone-season-19/ |archive-date=August 11, 2017 |access-date=August 12, 2017 |website=[[TVLine]] |publisher=TVLine Media, LLC ([[Penske Media Corporation]]) |location=United States}}</ref> It was later also announced that [[Brooke Shields]] was enlisted to assume a major recurring role (Sheila Porter, maternal grandmother of Noah Porter-Benson, Olivia's adopted son) starting in season 19 of the long-running dramatic series.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Laura Hurley |date=August 11, 2017 |title=Law & Order: SVU Season 19 Is Adding Brooke Shields For A Big Role |url=https://www.cinemablend.com/television/1691229/law--order-svu-season-19-is-adding-brooke-shields-for-a-big-role |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170812062722/http://www.cinemablend.com/television/1691229/law--order-svu-season-19-is-adding-brooke-shields-for-a-big-role |archive-date=August 12, 2017 |access-date=August 11, 2017 |website=CinemaBlend |publisher=Gateway Blend, LLC |location=United States}}</ref> On February 7, 2018, Raúl Esparza left the series after six seasons.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Abrams |first=Natalie |date=February 7, 2018 |title=Raúl Esparza exits Law & Order: SVU after six seasons |url=https://ew.com/tv/2018/02/07/law-order-svu-raul-esparza-exit/ |url-status=live |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209171859/http://ew.com/tv/2018/02/07/law-order-svu-raul-esparza-exit/ |archive-date=February 9, 2018 |access-date=February 10, 2018}}</ref> His role was taken over by Winchester. Upon being renewed for its twenty-first season, it was announced that Winchester would be departing the series after the twentieth season.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Petski |first1=Denise |last2=Andreeva |first2=Nellie |date=March 29, 2019 |title=Philip Winchester Leaving 'Law & Order: SVU' Ahead Of Historic 21st Season |url=https://deadline.com/2019/03/philip-winchester-leaving-law-order-svu-21st-season-1202585208/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329212125/https://deadline.com/2019/03/philip-winchester-leaving-law-order-svu-21st-season-1202585208/ |archive-date=March 29, 2019 |access-date=March 30, 2019}}</ref>

In March 2019, it was announced that the show would come back for season 21, making it the [[List of longest-running scripted U.S. primetime television series|longest-running primetime U.S. live-action series in the history of television]].<ref name="The A.V. Club" /> On March 29, 2019, it was revealed that Winchester would not return for season 21. He tweeted the same day about his departure from the show.<ref>{{Cite web |last=John |first=Caroline |date=May 17, 2019 |title=Why Did Philip Winchester Leave "Law & Order: SVU"? |url=https://www.earnthenecklace.com/why-philip-winchester-leave-law-order-svu/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190525140916/https://www.earnthenecklace.com/why-philip-winchester-leave-law-order-svu/ |archive-date=May 25, 2019 |access-date=May 20, 2019 |website=Earn The Necklace |language=en}}</ref> On May 16, 2019, the season finale aired and Winchester took to Twitter to thank the cast and crew for the send-off.<ref>{{Cite tweet |last=Winchester |first=Philip |author-link=Philip Winchester |date=May 16, 2019 |title=As this chapter closes, my deepest gratitude and thankfulness to @Noochone and @AlexChapple2 for giving me a wonderful send off. Surrounding me with strong story telling and brilliant co-stars. I'll miss you all! |user=philipwinchestr |number=1129210577400676352 |access-date=May 20, 2019 |language=en |archive-date=October 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211017191733/https://twitter.com/philipwinchestr/status/1129210577400676352 |url-status=live}}</ref> After recurring for several episodes in season 21 as Vice Officer Katriona Tamin, [[Jamie Gray Hyder]] joined the cast as a regular, starting in episode 8.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-02-06 |title=Law and Order: SVU's New Recruit Jamie Gray Hyder Is Already Feeling the Power of the Show |url=https://www.eonline.com/news/1120128/law-and-order-svu-s-new-recruit-jamie-gray-hyder-is-already-feeling-the-power-of-the-show |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=E! Online}}</ref> On October 6, 2020, [[Demore Barnes]], who had recurred throughout season 21 as new Deputy Chief Christian Garland, was upgraded to regular status for season 22.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=October 6, 2020 |title='Law & Order: SVU' Promotes Demore Barnes To Series Regular For Season 22 Of NBC Drama |url=https://deadline.com/2020/10/law-order-svu-demore-barnes-promoted-series-regular-season-22-nbc-drama-deputy-chief-christian-garland-1234592466/ |access-date=January 6, 2021 |website=Deadline |language=en-US |archive-date=February 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210206032354/https://deadline.com/2020/10/law-order-svu-demore-barnes-promoted-series-regular-season-22-nbc-drama-deputy-chief-christian-garland-1234592466/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=Lucas |date=October 7, 2020 |title='Law & Order: SVU' Adds Demore Barnes To Season 22 Main Cast |url=https://www.allvipp.com/tv-movies/law-order-svu-casts-demore-barnes-for-season-22#:~:text=Demore%20Barnes%20will%20join%20the,who%20was%20introduced%20last%20season. |access-date=January 6, 2021 |archive-date=January 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109194247/https://www.allvipp.com/tv-movies/law-order-svu-casts-demore-barnes-for-season-22#:~:text=Demore%20Barnes%20will%20join%20the,who%20was%20introduced%20last%20season. |url-status=live }}</ref>
On September 3, 2021, it was announced that Hyder and Barnes would both depart the series following the two-hour season 23 premiere.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 3, 2021 |title=Jamie Gray Hyder & Demore Barnes Exiting 'Law & Order: SVU' in Season 23 |url=https://deadline.com/2021/09/jamie-gray-hyder-demore-barnes-exiting-law-order-svu-season-23-1234826985/ |access-date=September 6, 2021 |archive-date=September 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210906120649/https://deadline.com/2021/09/jamie-gray-hyder-demore-barnes-exiting-law-order-svu-season-23-1234826985/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On October 13, 2021, [[Octavio Pisano]], who had guest starred since the start of the season, was promoted to regular status.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Laura Hurley |date=October 28, 2021 |title=How Law And Order: SVU's Next Episode Could Fully Incorporate Kat's Replacement Into The Team |url=https://www.cinemablend.com/television/how-law-and-order-svus-next-episode-could-fully-incorporate-kats-replacement-into-the-team |access-date=August 24, 2023 |website=CINEMABLEND |language=en |archive-date=August 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230825043324/https://www.cinemablend.com/television/how-law-and-order-svus-next-episode-could-fully-incorporate-kats-replacement-into-the-team |url-status=live }}</ref> On August 24, 2022, it was announced that  Giddish would leave the series during the first half of season 24, with episode nine as her last appearance as a regular.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Jacobs|first=Meredith|title=How 'SVU' Said Goodbye to Rollins in Kelli Giddish's Last Episode (RECAP)|url=https://www.tvinsider.com/1073025/law-order-svu-season-24-episode-9-kelli-giddish-exit-rollins-teaching-carisi-wedding/|website=TV Insider|date=December 8, 2022}}</ref> On November 10, 2022, [[Molly Burnett]], who initially appeared in a recurring capacity for the first six episodes, was promoted to series regular beginning with the seventh episode.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Holmes |first=Martin |date=July 27, 2022 |title='Days of Our Lives' Alum Molly Burnett Joins 'Law & Order: SVU' |url=https://www.tvinsider.com/1053886/days-of-our-lives-molly-burnett-law-order-svu/ |access-date=August 25, 2023 |website=TV Insider |language=en-US |archive-date=June 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604102320/https://www.tvinsider.com/1053886/days-of-our-lives-molly-burnett-law-order-svu/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On May 19, 2023, Burnett announced that she will leave at the end of the show's twenty-fourth season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dodge |first=John |date=May 21, 2023 |title=Law & Order: SVU Confirms a Major Character's Departure |url=https://www.cbr.com/law-and-order-svu-molly-burnett-leaving/ |access-date=August 25, 2023 |website=CBR |language=en |archive-date=August 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230825043321/https://www.cbr.com/law-and-order-svu-molly-burnett-leaving/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On November 28, 2023, it was announced Giddish would return for the twenty-fifth season premiere.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roots |first=Kimberly |date=2023-11-28 |title=Law & Order: SVU: Kelli Giddish to Return for Season 25 Premiere (Exclusive) |url=https://tvline.com/news/law-and-order-svu-kelli-giddish-return-season-25-rollins-1235090190/ |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=TVLine |language=en-US |archive-date=November 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231129025214/https://tvline.com/news/law-and-order-svu-kelli-giddish-return-season-25-rollins-1235090190/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On July 22, 2024, it was reported that [[Kevin Kane (actor)|Kevin Kane]], who portrays Terry Bruno, would be promoted to a series regular for the show's twenty-sixth season, after recurring the previous two seasons.<ref name="KK">{{cite web|url=https://tvline.com/casting-news/law-and-order-svu-kevin-kane-series-regular-season-26-bruno-1235285335/|title=''Law & Order: SVU'' Promotes Kevin Kane Ahead of Season 26|work=TVLine.com|date=July 23, 2024 |access-date=July 23, 2024}}</ref> On August 7, 2024, it was announced [[Juliana Aidén Martinez]], who would portray Kate Silva, was added as a series regular ahead of the season premiere.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.tvinsider.com/1145091/law-order-svu-season-26-cast-premiere-date-spoilers/|website=TV Insider|title='Law & Order: SVU': See Captain Benson With Her Season 26 Squad (PHOTO)|last=Jacobs|first=Meredith|date=August 7, 2024|access-date=September 23, 2024}}</ref> On May 6, 2025, it was announced Martinez and Pisano would depart following the conclusion of the twenty-sixth season.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rice |first1=Rosy Cordero,Lynette |title=''Law & Order: SVU'': Juliana Martinez & Octavio Pisano Leaving After Season 26 |url=https://deadline.com/2025/05/law-and-order-svu-julianna-martinez-octavio-pisano-leaving-1236387557/ |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |publisher=[[Penske Media Corporation]] |access-date=May 8, 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250507004212/https://deadline.com/2025/05/law-and-order-svu-julianna-martinez-octavio-pisano-leaving-1236387557/ |archive-date=May 7, 2025 |date=May 6, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> Nine days later, it was announced Giddish would return as a series regular for the twenty-seventh season.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Andreeva |first1=Nellie |title=Rollins Returns: Kelli Giddish Rejoins ''Law & Order: SVU'' as Series Regular for Season 27 |url=https://deadline.com/2025/05/kelli-giddish-law-amp-order-svu-return-rollins-season-27-1236398583/ |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |publisher=[[Penske Media Corporation]] |access-date=May 15, 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250515180739/https://deadline.com/2025/05/kelli-giddish-law-amp-order-svu-return-rollins-season-27-1236398583/ |archive-date=May 15, 2025 |location=United States |date=May 15, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Roots |first1=Kimberly |title=''Law & Order: SVU'' Is Bringing Kelli Giddish Back as a Series Regular |url=https://tvline.com/news/law-and-order-svu-kelli-giddish-season-27-series-regular-1235450285/ |website=[[TVLine]] |publisher=[[Penske Media Corporation]] |access-date=May 15, 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250515191534/https://tvline.com/news/law-and-order-svu-kelli-giddish-season-27-series-regular-1235450285/ |archive-date=May 15, 2025 |location=United States |date=May 15, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref>

====Salaries====
By season twelve, both Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni had become among the highest-paid lead actors on a drama, with each earning nearly $400,000 per episode, a salary that ''[[TV Guide]]'' said was exceeded only by [[House (TV series)|''House'']]'s [[Hugh Laurie]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Stephen Battaglio |date=August 10, 2010 |title=Who Are TV's Top Earners? |url=https://www.tvguide.com/News/Top-TV-Earners-1021717.aspx |url-status=live |magazine=[[TV Guide]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100902040629/http://www.tvguide.com/News/Top-TV-Earners-1021717.aspx |archive-date=September 2, 2010 |access-date=September 4, 2010}}</ref> During season sixteen, Hargitay was reported to be earning $450,000 per episode, or $10,350,000 per season.<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=No. 2: Mariska Hargitay – pg.4 Forbes |url=https://www.forbes.com/pictures/emjl45mehj/no-2-mariska-hargitay-2/ |url-status=live |magazine=Forbes |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170221035325/https://www.forbes.com/pictures/emjl45mehj/no-2-mariska-hargitay-2/ |archive-date=February 21, 2017 |access-date=September 17, 2016}}</ref> In season seventeen, her salary increased to $500,000 per episode.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Garrett |date=September 21, 2015 |title=Per episode salaries of the highest paid TV actors of all time |url=http://thechive.com/2015/09/21/the-highest-paid-tv-actors-of-all-time-make-a-lot-of-money-per-episode-26-photos/#slide-13 |access-date=September 17, 2016 |publisher=theCHIVE |archive-date=March 1, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240301164954/https://thechive.com/entertainment/celebrity/the-highest-paid-tv-actors-of-all-time-make-a-lot-of-money-per-episode-26-photos/#slide-13 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Filming and location===
[[Image:Law&OrderSVUFilmingatnightinCentralPark.jpg|thumb|350px|''SVU'' shooting on location in [[Central Park]] at night]]

Many exterior scenes of ''Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'' are filmed on location in New York City, Wolf's hometown, throughout all five of [[Borough (New York City)|New York City's boroughs]].<ref name="Green and Dawn 2-3">Green and Dawn (2009), pp.&nbsp;2–3</ref> [[Fort Lee, New Jersey]] served as the filming location for Detective [[Elliot Stabler]]'s residence in [[Queens]], New York.<ref name=Kimpton/>

When searching for a place to film the interiors of the show, the producers found that there were no suitable studio spaces available in New York City. As a result, a space was chosen at NBC's Central Archives building in nearby [[North Bergen, New Jersey]], {{convert|53000|ft2}} of stage area that had been left unused for some time.<ref name="Green and Dawn 14">Green and Dawn (2009), p.&nbsp;14</ref> The Archives building was used for police station and courtroom scenes,<ref name="Kimpton">Kimpton, Roger. "Hollywood on the Palisades"; ''Palisade'' magazine; Summer 2010; Pages 12–15</ref> with various other locations in [[Hudson County, New Jersey|Hudson County]] used for other scenes, such as a scene shot at the Meadowlands Parkway in [[Secaucus, New Jersey|Secaucus]] in 2010. The production left New Jersey for New York in 2010, however, when New Jersey Governor [[Chris Christie]] suspended the tax credits for film and television production for the Fiscal Year 2011 to close budget gaps.<ref>Wright, E. Assata. "Getting the film crews back to NJ", ''[[The Union City Reporter]]'', February 13, 2011, pages 5 and 7</ref> The show moved into the studio space at [[Chelsea Piers]] that had been occupied by the original ''[[Law & Order]]'' series until its cancellation in May 2010.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ausiello |first=Michael |date=May 14, 2010 |title=It's official: NBC cancels 'Law & Order' |url=http://insidetv.ew.com/2010/05/14/nbc-cancels-law-order-2/ |url-status=live |access-date=March 17, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111025030/http://insidetv.ew.com/2010/05/14/nbc-cancels-law-order-2/ |archive-date=January 11, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=June 25, 2010 |title='Law & Order: SVU' Leaves New Jersey Over Nixed Tax Credit & May Move Into 'L&O' Set |work=Deadline Hollywood |publisher=[[Penske Media Corporation|Mail.com Media]] |url=https://deadline.com/2010/06/law-order-svu-leaves-new-jersey-over-nixed-tax-credit-may-move-into-lo-set-49433/ |url-status=live |access-date=June 25, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100628014021/http://www.deadline.com/2010/06/law-order-svu-leaves-new-jersey-over-nixed-tax-credit-may-move-into-lo-set |archive-date=June 28, 2010}}</ref> In 2023, filming near the courthouses at [[Foley Square]] coincided with media attention on the trial related to the [[Prosecution of Donald Trump in New York]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Meyer |first=Ken |date=2023-03-22 |title=MSNBC Cracks Up When Reporter Notes 'Law & Order' Filming 'Just Down the Street' From Manhattan Courthouse Amid Trump Drama |url=https://www.mediaite.com/weird/msnbc-cracks-up-when-reporter-notes-law-order-filming-just-down-the-street-from-manhattan-courthouse-amid-trump-drama/ |access-date=2025-05-15 |website=Mediaite |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |last2= |first2= |date=2023-03-22 |title=Waiting for Trump charges: Not much news, but Ice-T appears during TV show filming |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/2023/03/22/waiting-for-trump-charges-not-much-news-but-ice-t-appears-during-tv-show-filming/ |access-date=2025-05-15 |website=New York Daily News |language=en-US}}</ref> During external filming in [[Fort Tryon Park]] in 2024, it was reported that a young girl looking for her mother mistook Mariska Hargitay for a real police officer.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mariska Hargitay, Dressed in Her SVU Gear, Mistaken for Real-Life Police Officer By Young Girl Looking for Her Mom |url=https://people.com/mariska-hargitay-mistaken-for-real-life-police-officer-by-young-girl-on-svu-set-8634829 |access-date=2025-05-15 |website=People.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Longeretta |first=Emily |date=2024-05-01 |title=Mariska Hargitay on Making a TV Icon, Dick Wolf's 'Tough Love,' Fighting for Kelli Giddish and 20 Years of Helping Survivors of Sexual Violence |url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/mariska-hargitay-svu-olivia-benson-kelli-giddish-1235986042/ |access-date=2025-05-15 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Episodes==
{{main|List of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episodes (seasons 1–19){{!}}List of ''Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'' episodes (seasons 1–19)|List of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episodes (season 20–present){{!}}List of ''Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'' episodes (season 20−present)}}
<onlyinclude>{{Series overview
| infoA      = Rank
| infoB      = Rating

| color1     = #A41F1F
| link1      = List of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episodes (seasons 1–19)#Season 1 (1999–2000)
| episodes1  = 22
| start1     = {{Start date|1999|9|20}}
| end1       = {{End date|2000|5|21}}
| infoA1     = 30
| infoB1     = 8.8

| color2     = #000000
| link2      = List of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episodes (seasons 1–19)#Season 2 (2000–2001)
| episodes2  = 21
| start2     = {{Start date|2000|10|20}}
| end2       = {{End date|2001|5|11}}
| infoA2     = 25
| infoB2     = 9.6

| color3     = #074E7D
| link3      = List of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episodes (seasons 1–19)#Season 3 (2001–2002)
| episodes3  = 23
| start3     = {{Start date|2001|9|28}}
| end3       = {{End date|2002|5|17}}
| infoA3     = 12
| infoB3     = 10.4

| color4     = #7D3924
| link4      = List of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episodes (seasons 1–19)#Season 4 (2002–2003)
| episodes4  = 25
| start4     = {{Start date|2002|9|27}}
| end4       = {{End date|2003|5|16}}
| infoA4     = 14
| infoB4     = 10.1

| color5     = #614D49
| link5      = List of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episodes (seasons 1–19)#Season 5 (2003–2004)
| episodes5  = 25
| start5     = {{Start date|2003|9|23}}
| end5       = {{End date|2004|5|18}}
| infoA5     = 18
| infoB5     = 8.7

| color6     = #973C20
| link6      = List of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episodes (seasons 1–19)#Season 6 (2004–2005)
| episodes6  = 23
| start6     = {{Start date|2004|9|21}}
| end6       = {{End date|2005|5|24}}
| infoA6     = 16
| infoB6     = 9.2

| color7     = #6F9F8E
| link7      = List of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episodes (seasons 1–19)#Season 7 (2005–2006)
| episodes7  = 22
| start7     = {{Start date|2005|9|20}}
| end7       = {{End date|2006|5|16}}
| infoA7     = 18
| infoB7     = 9.2

| color8     = #445B69
| link8      = List of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episodes (seasons 1–19)#Season 8 (2006–2007)
| episodes8  = 22
| start8     = {{Start date|2006|9|19}}
| end8       = {{End date|2007|5|22}}
| infoA8     = 24
| infoB8     = 7.9

| color9     = #C9B56B
| link9      = List of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episodes (seasons 1–19)#Season 9 (2007–2008)
| episodes9  = 19
| start9     = {{Start date|2007|9|25}}
| end9       = {{End date|2008|5|13}}
| infoA9     = 22
| infoB9     = 7.6

| color10    = #A29D85
| link10     = List of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episodes (seasons 1–19)#Season 10 (2008–2009)
| episodes10 = 22
| start10    = {{Start date|2008|9|23}}
| end10      = {{End date|2009|6|2}}
| infoA10    = 26
| infoB10    = 6.7

| color11    = #6E1F19
| link11     = List of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episodes (seasons 1–19)#Season 11 (2009–2010)
| episodes11 = 24
| start11    = {{Start date|2009|9|23}}
| end11      = {{End date|2010|5|19}}
| infoA11    = 48
| infoB11    = 8.2

| color12    = #614D61
| link12     = List of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episodes (seasons 1–19)#Season 12 (2010–2011)
| episodes12 = 24
| start12    = {{Start date|2010|9|22}}
| end12      = {{End date|2011|5|18}}
| infoA12    = 44
| infoB12    = 8.8

| color13    = #F2E2C7
| link13     = List of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episodes (seasons 1–19)#Season 13 (2011–2012)
| episodes13 = 23
| start13    = {{Start date|2011|9|21}}
| end13      = {{End date|2012|5|23}}
| infoA13    = 62
| infoB13    = 7.6

| color14    = #95D0EF
| link14     = List of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episodes (seasons 1–19)#Season 14 (2012–2013)
| episodes14 = 24
| start14    = {{Start date|2012|9|26}}
| end14      = {{End date|2013|5|22}}
| infoA14    = 53
| infoB14    = 7.3

| color15    = #DC9C35
| link15     = List of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episodes (seasons 1–19)#Season 15 (2013–2014)
| episodes15 = 24
| start15    = {{Start date|2013|9|25}}
| end15      = {{End date|2014|5|21}}
| infoA15    = 49
| infoB15    = 9.1

| color16    = #4C4C4C
| link16     = List of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episodes (seasons 1–19)#Season 16 (2014–2015)
| episodes16 = 23
| start16    = {{Start date|2014|9|24}}
| end16      = {{End date|2015|5|20}}
| infoA16    = 41
| infoB16    = 10.0

| color17    = #022233
| link17     = List of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episodes (seasons 1–19)#Season 17 (2015–2016)
| episodes17 = 23
| start17    = {{Start date|2015|9|23}}
| end17      = {{End date|2016|5|25}}
| infoA17    = 52
| infoB17    = 8.3

| color18    = #444a57
| link18     = List of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episodes (seasons 1–19)#Season 18 (2016–2017)
| episodes18 = 21
| start18    = {{Start date|2016|9|21}}
| end18      = {{End date|2017|5|24}}
| infoA18    = 48
| infoB18    = 7.4

| color19    = #008080
| link19     = List of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episodes (seasons 1–19)#Season 19 (2017–2018)
| episodes19 = 24
| start19    = {{Start date|2017|9|27}}
| end19      = {{End date|2018|5|23}}
| infoA19    = 39
| infoB19    = 8.6

| color20    = #200a32
| link20     = List of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episodes (season 20–present)#Season 20 (2018–2019)
| episodes20 = 24
| start20    = {{Start date|2018|9|27}}
| end20      = {{End date|2019|5|16}}
| infoA20    = 51
| infoB20    = 7.4

| color21    = #022d36
| link21     = List of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episodes (season 20–present)#Season 21 (2019–2020)
| episodes21 = 20
| start21    = {{Start date|2019|9|26}}
| end21      = {{End date|2020|4|23}}
| infoA21    = 55
| infoB21    = 6.5

| color22    = #5E5147
| link22     = List of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episodes (season 20–present)#Season 22 (2020–2021)
| episodes22 = 16
| start22    = {{Start date|2020|11|12}}
| end22      = {{End date|2021|6|3}}
| infoA22    = 36
| infoB22    = 5.9

| color23    = #452B0C
| link23     = List of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episodes (season 20–present)#Season 23 (2021–2022)
| episodes23 = 22
| start23    = {{Start date|2021|9|23}}
| end23      = {{End date|2022|5|19}}
| infoA23    = 29
| infoB23    = 6.8

| color24    = #000A0C
| link24     = List of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episodes (season 20–present)#Season 24 (2022–2023)
| episodes24 = 22
| start24    = {{Start date|2022|9|22}}
| end24      = {{End date|2023|5|18}}
| infoA24    = 21
| infoB24    = 6.8

| color25    = #B89660
| link25     = List of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episodes (season 20–present)#Season 25 (2024)
| episodes25 = 13
| start25    = {{Start date|2024|1|18}}
| end25      = {{End date|2024|5|16}}
| infoA25    = 20
| infoB25    = 6.8

| color26     = #2D313A
| link26      = List of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episodes (season 20–present)#Season 26 (2024–2025)
| episodes26  = 22
| start26     = {{Start date|2024|10|3}}
| end26       = {{End date|2025|5|15}}
| infoA26     = 
| infoB26     = 
}}</onlyinclude>

==Release==
===Broadcast===
''Law & Order: SVU'' airs on [[NBC]] in the United States. With the season eleven premiere on September 23, 2009, the series vacated its Tuesday 10&nbsp;p.m. ET slot as NBC began a nightly prime-time series hosted by [[Jay Leno]]. The new time slot became Wednesday nights at 9:00&nbsp;p.m. ET on NBC, with [[CTV Television Network|CTV]] still airing ''SVU'' on Tuesdays at 10:00 in Canada.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mitovich |first=Matt |title=Fall TV: NBC Announces Premiere Dates |work=[[TV Guide]] |url=https://www.tvguide.com/News/FallTV-NBC-premieres-1007251.aspx |url-status=live |access-date=June 25, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090626200856/http://www.tvguide.com/News/FallTV-NBC-premieres-1007251.aspx |archive-date=June 26, 2009}}</ref> After the [[2010 Winter Olympics]] on March 3, 2010, the time slot again changed to Wednesdays at 10&nbsp;p.m. ET, where it stayed until the twelfth season.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hibberd, James |date=January 10, 2010 |title=NBC firms up post-'Leno' schedule |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3ie77b4ee401b87ca182697be7b448ad25 |url-status=dead |access-date=January 22, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100123205226/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3ie77b4ee401b87ca182697be7b448ad25 |archive-date=January 23, 2010}}</ref> For the 12th season, ''SVU'' moved back to 9:00&nbsp;p.m. to lead in the newest ''Law & Order'' spin-off, ''[[Law & Order: LA]]'',<ref name="TFCLOLApremiere">{{Cite news |date=July 30, 2010 |title=Breaking News – NBC Announces Updated Fall Schedule Premieres |work=The Futon Critic |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2010/07/30/nbc-announces-updated-fall-schedule-premieres/20100730nbc02/ |access-date=June 17, 2012}}</ref> until it was pulled from the network in January 2011 to be retooled.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Stanhope |first=Kate |date=January 18, 2011 |title=NBC Benches Law & Order: Los Angeles Following Cast Shake-Up |url=https://www.tvguide.com/News/Law-Order-LA-Pulled-1028061.aspx |url-status=live |magazine=[[TV Guide]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021031916/http://www.tvguide.com/News/Law-Order-LA-Pulled-1028061.aspx |archive-date=October 21, 2012 |access-date=June 17, 2012}}</ref> ''SVU'' moved back to 10:00&nbsp;p.m. on January 12, 2011, until the end of the 13th season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Seidman |first=Robert |date=November 15, 2010 |title=NBC Renews '30 Rock', Announces Parks & Rec Return & Major Midseason Schedule Changes |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2010/11/15/nbc-renews-30-rock-announces-parks-rec-return-major-midseason-schedule-changes/72090 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101117143219/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2010/11/15/nbc-renews-30-rock-announces-parks-rec-return-major-midseason-schedule-changes/72090 |archive-date=November 17, 2010 |access-date=June 17, 2012 |website=TV by the Numbers}}</ref> With season 14, ''SVU'' moved back to 9:00&nbsp;p.m. after a two-hour season premiere event on September 26, 2012.<ref name="Law2012">{{Cite web |last=Bibel |first=Sara |date=June 14, 2012 |title=NBC Announces Fall 2012 Premiere Dates for 'Grimm', 'Revolution', 'The Voice,' 'Animal Practice' & More |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/06/14/nbc-announces-fall-premiere-dates-for-grimm-revolution-the-voice-animal-practice-more/138202/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120818160640/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/06/14/nbc-announces-fall-premiere-dates-for-grimm-revolution-the-voice-animal-practice-more/138202/ |archive-date=August 18, 2012 |access-date=June 14, 2012 |website=TV by the Numbers}}</ref> Beginning with Season 20, ''SVU'' would air on Thursday nights at 10 p.m., after NBC decided to devote their entire Wednesday primetime lineup to the ''Chicago Med'', ''PD'', and ''Fire'' trilogy. It marked the first time ever that ''Law & Order: SVU'' would hold this timeslot on Thursday nights.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 13, 2018 |title=NBC's fall lineup: An all-'Chicago' drama block on Wednesdays |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/05/13/nbcs-fall-lineup-an-all-chicago-drama-block-on-wednesdays/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180514001749/https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/05/13/nbcs-fall-lineup-an-all-chicago-drama-block-on-wednesdays/amp/ |archive-date=May 14, 2018 |access-date=May 24, 2018 |website=www.mercurynews.com}}</ref> Starting with season 22, ''SVU'' moved to 9 p.m., with offshoot ''Law & Order: Organized Crime'' taking its old slot.<ref name="Spinoff" />

From season 21, ''Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'' airs on [[Sky Witness]] in the United Kingdom.{{citation needed|date=September 2023}} Beginning from season 23, it moved from CTV to [[CityTV]] in Canada, simulcasting with NBC.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wellard |first=Paul |date=2021-06-08 |title=Citytv Lays Down the Law (& Order) with Blockbuster Franchises to Anchor 2021/22 Schedule |url=https://about.rogers.com/news-ideas/citytv-lays-down-the-law-order-with-blockbuster-franchises-to-anchor-2021-22-schedule/ |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=About Rogers |language=en-US}}</ref> ''Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'' airs on [[Rock Entertainment]] in Southeast Asia.

===Streaming===
[[Peacock (streaming service)|Peacock]] and [[Hulu]] currently have all seasons (1–24) available. The latest 5 episodes can be watched for free on NBC.com<ref>{{Cite web |title=Watch Law & Order: SVU Videos, Highlights & Clips - NBC.com |url=http://www.nbc.com/law-and-order-special-victims-unit/video |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151215045134/http://www.nbc.com/law-and-order-special-victims-unit/video |archive-date=December 15, 2015 |access-date=December 14, 2015 |website=NBC}}</ref> and the NBC app.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Download the NBC App for Phones, Tablets and Connected Devices! |url=http://www.nbc.com/apps |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151214195748/http://www.nbc.com/apps |archive-date=December 14, 2015 |access-date=December 14, 2015 |website=NBC}}</ref> Outside of SVOD and NBC platforms, most episodes (outside of seasons 2–4 in the United States for unknown reasons) can be found on [[electronic sell-through]] platforms such as [[iTunes]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 20, 1999 |title=Law & Order: SVU (Special Victims Unit), Season 16 on iTunes |url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/tv-season/law-order-svu-special-victims/id913808491 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105013519/https://itunes.apple.com/us/tv-season/law-order-svu-special-victims/id913808491 |archive-date=January 5, 2016 |access-date=December 14, 2015 |website=iTunes}}</ref> and [[Amazon Prime Video]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Watch Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 1 Episode – Amazon Video |url=https://www.amazon.com/Payback/dp/B000V7W1U4/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160127002711/http://www.amazon.com/Payback/dp/B000V7W1U4 |archive-date=January 27, 2016 |access-date=December 14, 2015 |website=www.amazon.com}}</ref> The series is available for streaming on [[Peacock (streaming service)|Peacock]] along with ''[[Chicago Fire (TV series)|Chicago Fire]]'', ''[[Chicago P.D. (TV series)|Chicago P.D.]]'', ''[[Chicago Med]]'', ''[[Law & Order]]'' and ''[[Law & Order: Criminal Intent]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goldberg |first=Lesley |date=January 16, 2020 |title=Dick Wolf Sets Rich Six-Show Streaming Deal at Peacock |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/dick-wolf-sets-rich-six-show-streaming-deal-at-peacock-1270337/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200117013702/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/amp/live-feed/dick-wolf-sets-rich-six-show-streaming-deal-at-peacock-1270337 |archive-date=January 17, 2020 |access-date=January 16, 2020 |website=The Hollywood Reporter}}</ref> Seasons 1–22 are available for streaming in Australia on Amazon Prime Video. In Brazil, seasons 11 to 13 are available on Amazon Prime Video, and seasons 1–22 are available on Globoplay, although seasons 15–22 require a subscription expansion or cable access to UniversalTV.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Confira as estreias de outubro no Globoplay |date=September 30, 2021 |publisher=Comunicação Globo |location=Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |url=https://imprensa.globo.com/programas/globoplayinstitucional/textos/confira-as-estreias-de-outubro-no-globoplay/ |language=pt-br |access-date=October 27, 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210930204503/https://imprensa.globo.com/programas/globoplayinstitucional/textos/confira-as-estreias-de-outubro-no-globoplay/ |archive-date=September 30, 2021 |trans-title=Check out these upcoming releases for Globoplay in October |author=<!--Not stated-->}}</ref> In 2024, selected seasons returned to [[Netflix]] in certain regions including the UK, Europe, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and Latin America.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=Kasey |date=2024-01-18 |title='Law & Order: SVU' Sets February 2024 Netflix Release in Select Countries |url=https://www.whats-on-netflix.com/news/law-order-special-victims-unit-sets-february-2024-netflix-release-in-select-countries/ |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=What's on Netflix |language=en}}</ref>

===Syndication===
As of January 2024, the series is rerun on fellow [[NBCUniversal]] network [[USA Network|USA]], as well as on [[Ion Television]] and [[MyNetworkTV]] stations. The series also briefly ran on [[Syfy]] in 2006. In 2008, [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] obtained rights to air ''Law & Order: SVU'' on Fox-owned TV stations, and began doing so in the fall of 2009.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hibberd |first=James |date=April 28, 2008 |title='SVU' picked up in syndication |publisher=Hollywood Reporter, Associated Press |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/svu-picked-up-syndication-110408 |url-status=live |access-date=September 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190928003606/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/svu-picked-up-syndication-110408 |archive-date=September 28, 2019}}</ref>

==Reception==

===Ratings===
{{Television season ratings
| hide_18_49_rating = y
| hide_18_49_rank   = y

| link1         = Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (season 1)
| timeslot1     = Monday 9:00{{nbsp}}p.m. {{small|({{Abbr|ep.|episodes}} 1–9)}}<br>Friday 10:00{{nbsp}}p.m. {{small|({{Abbr|ep.|episodes}} 10–22)}}
| episodes1     = 22
| start1        = {{Start date|1999|9|20}}
| startrating1  = 14.13<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 29, 1999 |title=National Nielsen Viewership (Sep. 20–26) |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/41321901/the-los-angeles-times/ |access-date=April 2, 2023 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |archive-date=March 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230330021449/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/41321901/the-los-angeles-times/ |url-status=live }}{{free access}}</ref>
| end1          = {{End date|2000|5|19}}
| endrating1    = 12.16<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 24, 2000 |title=National Nielsen Viewership (May. 15–21) |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/41303427/the-los-angeles-times/ |access-date=April 2, 2023 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |archive-date=April 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410003632/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/41303427/the-los-angeles-times/ |url-status=live }}{{free access}}</ref>
| season1       = 1999–2000
| rank1         = 33
| viewers1      = 12.18<ref name="9900season">{{Cite news |title=Top TV Shows For 1999–2000 Season |work=Variety |url=https://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=chart_pass&charttype=chart_topshows99&dept=TV |url-status=live |access-date=February 12, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120065741/http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=chart_pass&charttype=chart_topshows99&dept=TV |archive-date=January 20, 2012}}</ref>
| 18_49_rank1   = 
| 18_49_rating1 = 

| link2            = Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (season 2)
| timeslot2        = Friday 10:00{{nbsp}}p.m.
| timeslot_length2 = 3
| episodes2        = 21
| start2           = {{Start date|2000|10|20}}
| startrating2     = 13.39<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 25, 2000 |title=National Nielsen Viewership (Oct. 16–22) |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/41379901/the-los-angeles-times/ |access-date=April 16, 2023 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |archive-date=October 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221023003737/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/41379901/the-los-angeles-times/ |url-status=live }}{{free access}}</ref>
| end2             = {{End date|2001|5|11}}
| endrating2       = 15.06<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 16, 2001 |title=National Nielsen Viewership (May. 7–13) |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/41490616/the-los-angeles-times/ |access-date=April 16, 2023 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |archive-date=October 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021030817/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/41490616/the-los-angeles-times/ |url-status=live }}{{free access}}</ref>
| season2          = 2000–01
| rank2            = 29
| viewers2         = 13.10<ref name="0001season">{{Cite magazine |date=June 1, 2001 |title=The Bitter End |url=http://www.ew.com/article/2001/06/01/bitter-end |url-status=live |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |issue=598 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120718141929/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,256435,00.html |archive-date=July 18, 2012 |access-date=February 12, 2010}}</ref>
| 18_49_rank2      = 
| 18_49_rating2    = 

| link3         = Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (season 3)
| episodes3     = 23
| start3        = {{Start date|2001|9|28}}
| startrating3  = 15.79<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 3, 2001 |title=National Nielsen Viewership (Sep. 24–30) |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/41486712/the-los-angeles-times/ |access-date=April 2, 2023 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |archive-date=March 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230330165113/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/41486712/the-los-angeles-times/ |url-status=live }}{{free access}}</ref>
| end3          = {{End date|2002|5|17}}
| endrating3    = 14.27<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 30, 2002 |title=National Nielsen Viewership (May. 20–26) |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/41463925/the-los-angeles-times/ |access-date=April 16, 2023 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |archive-date=March 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230305035428/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/41463925/the-los-angeles-times/ |url-status=live }}{{free access}}</ref>
| season3       = 2001–02
| rank3         = 14
| viewers3      = 15.2<ref name="USATwrap01-02">{{Cite news |date=May 28, 2002 |title=How did your favorite show rate? |work=USA Today |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/television/2002/2002-05-28-year-end-chart.htm |url-status=live |access-date=September 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170222174856/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/television/2002/2002-05-28-year-end-chart.htm |archive-date=February 22, 2017}}</ref>
| 18_49_rank3   = 
| 18_49_rating3 = 

| link4         = Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (season 4)
| episodes4     = 25
| start4        = {{Start date|2002|9|27}}
| startrating4  = 14.88<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 2, 2002 |title=National Nielsen Viewership (Sep. 23–29) |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/41465735/the-los-angeles-times/ |access-date=April 2, 2023 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |archive-date=October 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221024061840/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/41465735/the-los-angeles-times/ |url-status=live }}{{free access}}</ref>
| end4          = {{End date|2003|5|16}}
| endrating4    = 13.72<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 21, 2003 |title=National Nielsen Viewership (May. 12–18) |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/41424933/the-los-angeles-times/ |access-date=April 2, 2023 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |archive-date=March 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230311130610/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/41424933/the-los-angeles-times/ |url-status=live }}{{free access}}</ref>
| season4       = 2002–03
| rank4         = 16
| viewers4      = 14.83<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nielsen's TOP 156 Shows for 2002–03 Options |url=http://groups.google.com/group/rec.arts.tv/browse_thread/thread/ee82c0640bcaeb06/82c78e0fe7710443?lnk=st&q=nielsen+top+156&rnum=1#82c78e0fe7710443 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130526004826/http://groups.google.com/group/rec.arts.tv/browse_thread/thread/ee82c0640bcaeb06/82c78e0fe7710443?lnk=st&q=nielsen+top+156&rnum=1#82c78e0fe7710443 |archive-date=May 26, 2013 |access-date=October 24, 2010 |publisher=rec.arts.tv}}</ref>
| 18_49_rank4   = 
| 18_49_rating4 = 

| link5            = Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (season 5)
| timeslot5        = Tuesday 10:00{{nbsp}}p.m.
| timeslot_length5 = 6
| episodes5        = 25
| start5           = {{Start date|2003|9|23}}
| startrating5     = 13.23<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 1, 2003 |title=National Nielsen Viewership (Sep. 22–28) |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/41426339/the-los-angeles-times/ |access-date=April 16, 2023 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |archive-date=March 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230311140052/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/41426339/the-los-angeles-times/ |url-status=live }}{{free access}}</ref>
| end5             = {{End date|2004|5|18}}
| endrating5       = 18.36<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 25, 2004 |title=Weekly Program Rankings: 05/17/04 Through 05/23/04 |work=[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC Medianet]] |url=http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=052504_07 |url-status=dead |access-date=March 7, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314121050/http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=052504_07 |archive-date=March 14, 2012}}</ref>
| season5          = 2003–04
| rank5            = 21
| viewers5         = 12.72<ref name="ABCwrap04-05">{{Cite news |date=June 2, 2004 |title=I.T.R.S. Ranking Report |publisher=ABC Television Network |url=http://www.abcmedianet.com/Web/progcal/dispDNR.aspx?id=060204_11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930155240/http://www.abcmedianet.com/Web/progcal/dispDNR.aspx?id=060204_11 |archive-date=September 30, 2007}}</ref>
| 18_49_rank5      = 
| 18_49_rating5    = 

| link6         = Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (season 6)
| episodes6     = 23
| start6        = {{Start date|2004|9|21}}
| startrating6  = 14.20<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 29, 2004 |title=Weekly Program Rankings: From 09/20/04 Through 09/26/04 |work=[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC Medianet]] |url=http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=092904_04 |url-status=dead |access-date=March 11, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306041611/http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=092904_04 |archive-date=March 6, 2012}}</ref>
| end6          = {{End date|2005|5|24}}
| endrating6    = 16.38<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 1, 2005 |title=Weekly Program Rankings: 05/23/05 Through 05/29/05 |work=[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC Medianet]] |url=http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=060105_04 |url-status=dead |access-date=March 11, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229222218/http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=060105_04 |archive-date=February 29, 2012}}</ref>
| season6       = 2004–05
| rank6         = 23
| viewers6      = 13.46<ref name="abc05">{{Cite news |date=June 1, 2005 |title=ABC Television Network 2004–2005 Primetime Ranking Report |work=[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC Medianet]] |url=http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=060105_05 |url-status=dead |access-date=November 6, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120421023509/http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=060105_05 |archive-date=April 21, 2012}}</ref>
| 18_49_rank6   = 
| 18_49_rating6 = 

| link7         = Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (season 7)
| episodes7     = 22
| start7        = {{Start date|2005|9|20}}
| startrating7  = 15.32<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 4, 2005 |title=Weekly Program Rankings: From 09/26/05 Through 10/02/05 |work=[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC Medianet]] |url=http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=100405_07 |url-status=dead |access-date=March 13, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217155149/http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=100405_07 |archive-date=February 17, 2012}}</ref>
| end7          = {{End date|2006|5|16}}
| endrating7    = 12.97<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 23, 2006 |title=Weekly Program Rankings: From 05/15/06 Through 05/21/06 |work=[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC Medianet]] |url=http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=052306_05 |url-status=dead |access-date=March 13, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229224016/http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=052306_05 |archive-date=February 29, 2012}}</ref>
| season7       = 2005–06
| rank7         = 24
| viewers7      = 13.78<ref name="abc06">[http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=053106_05 "ABC Television Network 2005–2006 Primetime Ranking Report"]. (May 31, 2006). ''[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC Medianet]]''. Retrieved November 6, 2007. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706163504/http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=053106_05 |date=July 6, 2011}}</ref>
| 18_49_rank7   = 
| 18_49_rating7 = 

| link8         = Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (season 8)
| episodes8     = 22
| start8        = {{Start date|2006|9|19}}
| startrating8  = 14.55<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 26, 2006 |title=Weekly Program Rankings |url=http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=092606_07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329105628/http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=092606_07 |archive-date=March 29, 2012 |access-date=March 19, 2012 |website=[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC Medianet]]}}</ref>
| end8          = {{End date|2007|5|22}}
| endrating8    = 10.28<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 30, 2007 |title=Weekly Program Rankings |url=http://www.abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=053007_07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131011173549/http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=053007_07 |archive-date=October 11, 2013 |access-date=March 19, 2012 |website=[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC Medianet]]}}</ref>
| season8       = 2006–07
| rank8         = 38
| viewers8      = 11.94<ref name="abc07">[http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=053007_08 "ABC Television Network 2006–2007 Primetime Ranking Report"]. (May 30, 2007). ''[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC Medianet]]''. Retrieved May 31, 2011. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323004317/http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=053007_08 |date=March 23, 2012 }}</ref>
| 18_49_rank8   = 
| 18_49_rating8 = 

| link9         = Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (season 9)
| episodes9     = 19
| start9        = {{Start date|2007|9|25}}
| startrating9  = 12.10<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 2, 2007 |title=With Break-Out Performances from New and Returning Series, NBC Ties for Premiere Week's Top Spot in 18–49 |work=The Futon Critic/NBC |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/ratings/2007/10/02/with-break-out-performances-from-new-and-returning-series-nbc-ties-for-premiere-weeks-top-spot-in-18-49-25605/20071002nbc01/ |access-date=September 11, 2011 |archive-date=March 1, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240301164954/http://www.thefutoncritic.com/ratings/2007/10/02/with-break-out-performances-from-new-and-returning-series-nbc-ties-for-premiere-weeks-top-spot-in-18-49-25605/20071002nbc01/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| end9          = {{End date|2008|5|13}}
| endrating9    = 10.83<ref>{{Cite news |last=Seidman |first=Robert |date=May 14, 2008 |title=Nielsen Ratings May 13, 2008: ''American Idol'' Still Crushes Field |work=[[TV by the Numbers]] |url=http://tvbythenumbers.com/2008/05/14/nielsen-ratings-may-13-2008-american-idol-still-crushes-field/3772 |url-status=dead |access-date=August 7, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516060844/http://tvbythenumbers.com/2008/05/14/nielsen-ratings-may-13-2008-american-idol-still-crushes-field/3772 |archive-date=May 16, 2008}}</ref>
| season9       = 2007–08
| rank9         = 30
| viewers9      = 11.33<ref name="abc08">[http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=052808_06 "ABC Television Network 2007–2008 Primetime Ranking Report"]. (May 28, 2008). ''[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC Medianet]]''. Retrieved July 3, 2009. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100413172935/http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=052808_06 |date=April 13, 2010 }}</ref>
| 18_49_rank9   = 
| 18_49_rating9 = 

| link10         = Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (season 10)
| episodes10     = 22
| start10        = {{Start date|2008|9|23}}
| startrating10  = 9.52<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gorman |first=Bill |date=September 24, 2008 |title=Tuesday, Sept. 23: Second Night Wins To CBS, ABC and Fox |work=[[TV by the Numbers]] |url=http://tvbythenumbers.com/2008/09/24/tuesday-sept-24-second-night-wins-to-cbs-abc-and-fox/5284 |url-status=dead |access-date=July 11, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100524060203/http://tvbythenumbers.com/2008/09/24/tuesday-sept-24-second-night-wins-to-cbs-abc-and-fox/5284 |archive-date=May 24, 2010}}</ref>
| end10          = {{End date|2009|6|2}}
| endrating10    = 11.34<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gorman |first=Bill |date=June 3, 2009 |title=Tuesday Ratings: NBC Wins Again Lead[sic] By ''Law & Order: SVU'' Finale, Obama Special |work=[[TV by the Numbers]] |url=http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/06/03/tuesday-ratings-nbc-wins-again-lead-by-law-order-svu-finale-obama-special/19940 |url-status=dead |access-date=July 11, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090606200200/http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/06/03/tuesday-ratings-nbc-wins-again-lead-by-law-order-svu-finale-obama-special/19940 |archive-date=June 6, 2009}}</ref>
| season10       = 2008–09
| rank10         = 39
| viewers10      = 10.11<ref name="abc09">[http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=060209_05 "ABC Television Network 2008–2009 Primetime Ranking Report"]. (June 2, 2009). ''[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC Medianet]]''. Retrieved August 29, 2013. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091007082952/http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=060209_05 |date=October 7, 2009 }}</ref>
| 18_49_rank10   = 
| 18_49_rating10 = 

| link11            = Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (season 11)
| timeslot11        = Wednesday 9:00{{nbsp}}p.m.
| timeslot_length11 = 2
| episodes11        = 24
| start11           = {{Start date|2009|9|23}}
| startrating11     = 8.36<ref>{{Cite news |last=Seidman |first=Robert |date=September 24, 2009 |title=Wednesday broadcast finals: ''Modern Family'' down a tenth, ''Cougar Town'' up a tenth with adults 18–49 |work=[[TV by the Numbers]] |url=http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/09/24/wednesday-broadcast-finals-modern-family-down-a-tenth-cougar-town-up-a-tenth-with-adults-18-49/28330 |url-status=dead |access-date=April 24, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091005105017/http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/09/24/wednesday-broadcast-finals-modern-family-down-a-tenth-cougar-town-up-a-tenth-with-adults-18-49/28330 |archive-date=October 5, 2009}}</ref>
| end11             = {{End date|2010|5|19}}
| endrating11       = 8.61<ref name="wednesdayfinals519">{{Cite web |date=May 20, 2010 |title=TV Ratings Wednesday: Good Guys Off To Bad Start; Idol Down |url=http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/05/20/tv-ratings-good-guys-off-to-bad-start-idol-down/51917 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100523043811/http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/05/20/tv-ratings-good-guys-off-to-bad-start-idol-down/51917 |archive-date=May 23, 2010 |access-date=May 20, 2010 |website=[[TV by the Numbers]]}}</ref>
| season11          = 2009–10
| rank11            = 44
| viewers11         = 8.81<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 16, 2010 |title=Final 2009–10 Broadcast Primetime Show Average Viewership |url=http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/06/16/final-2009-10-broadcast-primetime-show-average-viewership/54336 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100619131409/http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/06/16/final-2009-10-broadcast-primetime-show-average-viewership/54336 |archive-date=June 19, 2010 |access-date=August 26, 2010 |website=TV by the Numbers}}</ref>
| 18_49_rank11      = 
| 18_49_rating11    = 

| link12         = Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (season 12)
| episodes12     = 24
| start12        = {{Start date|2010|9|22}}
| startrating12  = 9.68<ref name="s12e01">{{Cite web |last=Seidman |first=Robert |date=September 23, 2010 |title=Wednesday Finals: ''The Middle'', ''Modern Family'', ''Cougar Town'', ''Undercovers'' All See Small Gains |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2010/09/23/wednesday-finals-the-middle-modern-family-cougar-town-undercovers-all-see-small-gains/64917 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190904130700/https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/sdsdskdh279882992z1/wednesday-finals-the-middle-modern-family-cougar-town-undercovers-all-see-small-gains/64917/ |archive-date=September 4, 2019 |access-date=September 23, 2010 |website=[[TV by the Numbers]]}}</ref>
| end12          = {{End date|2011|5|18}}
| endrating12    = 8.98<ref>{{Cite web |last=Seidman |first=Robert |date=May 19, 2011 |title=Wednesday Final Ratings: ''American Idol'', ''Modern Family'', ''Law & Order: SVU'' Adjusted Up; ''Happy Endings'' Adj. Down |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/05/19/wednesday-final-ratings-american-idol-modern-family-law-happy-endings-adj-down/93382/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522164945/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/05/19/wednesday-final-ratings-american-idol-modern-family-law-happy-endings-adj-down/93382/ |archive-date=May 22, 2011 |access-date=May 20, 2011 |website=[[TV by the Numbers]]}}</ref>
| season12       = 2010–11
| rank12         = 47
| viewers12      = 8.84<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gorman |first=Bill |date=June 1, 2011 |title=2010–11 Season Broadcast Primetime Show Viewership Averages |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/06/01/2010-11-season-broadcast-primetime-show-viewership-averages/94407/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604160109/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/06/01/2010-11-season-broadcast-primetime-show-viewership-averages/94407/ |archive-date=June 4, 2011 |access-date=June 1, 2011 |website=[[TV by the Numbers]]}}</ref>
| 18_49_rank12   = 
| 18_49_rating12 = 

| link13         = Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (season 13)
| timeslot13     = Wednesday 10:00{{nbsp}}p.m.
| episodes13     = 23
| start13        = {{Start date|2011|9|21}}
| startrating13  = 7.63<ref>{{Cite web |last=Seidman |first=Robert |date=September 22, 2011 |title=Wednesday Final Ratings: ''The X Factor'', ''Modern Family'', ''The Middle'', ''Revenge'' And Others Adjusted Up |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/09/22/wednesday-final-ratings-the-x-factor-modern-family-the-middle-revenge-and-others-adjusted-up/104596/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180922022942/https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/sdsdskdh279882992z1/wednesday-final-ratings-the-x-factor-modern-family-the-middle-revenge-and-others-adjusted-up/104596/ |archive-date=September 22, 2018 |access-date=September 22, 2011 |website=[[TV by the Numbers]]}}</ref>
| end13          = {{End date|2012|5|23}}
| endrating13    = 7.16<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kondolojy |first=Amanda |date=May 24, 2012 |title=Wednesday Final Ratings: ''Idol'', ''Modern Family'', & ''SVU'' Adjusted Up, ''Apt 23'' Adjusted Down |work=[[TV by the Numbers]] |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/05/24/wednesday-final-ratings-idol-modern-family-svu-adjusted-up-apt-23-adjusted-down/135606/ |url-status=dead |access-date=May 24, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120525184002/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/05/24/wednesday-final-ratings-idol-modern-family-svu-adjusted-up-apt-23-adjusted-down/135606/ |archive-date=May 25, 2012}}</ref>
| season13       = 2011–12
| rank13         = 67
| viewers13      = 7.59<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gorman |first=Bill |date=May 24, 2012 |title=Complete List Of 2011–12 Season TV Show Viewership: ''Sunday Night Football'' Tops, Followed By ''American Idol'', ''NCIS'' & ''Dancing With The Stars'' |work=[[TV by the Numbers]] |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/05/24/complete-list-of-2011-12-season-tv-show-viewership-sunday-night-football-tops-followed-by-american-idol-ncis-dancing-with-the-stars/135785/ |url-status=dead |access-date=May 25, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120530044746/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/05/24/complete-list-of-2011-12-season-tv-show-viewership-sunday-night-football-tops-followed-by-american-idol-ncis-dancing-with-the-stars/135785/ |archive-date=May 30, 2012}}</ref>
| 18_49_rank13   = 
| 18_49_rating13 = 

| link14            = Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (season 14)
| timeslot14        = Wednesday 9:00{{nbsp}}p.m.
| timeslot_length14 = 6
| episodes14        = 24
| start14           = {{Start date|2012|9|26}}
| startrating14     = 7.19<ref name="ep14x01a02">{{Cite web |last=Kondolojy |first=Amanda |date=September 27, 2012 |title=Wednesday Final Ratings: ''X Factor'', ''Survivor'', ''The Middle'' Adjusted Up, ''The Neighbors'' Adjusted Down |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/09/27/wednesday-final-ratings-x-factor-survivor-the-middle-adjusted-up-the-neighbors-adjusted-down/150388/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120930010708/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/09/27/wednesday-final-ratings-x-factor-survivor-the-middle-adjusted-up-the-neighbors-adjusted-down/150388/ |archive-date=September 30, 2012 |access-date=September 27, 2012 |website=[[TV by the Numbers]]}}</ref>
| end14             = {{End date|2013|5|22}}
| endrating14       = 6.66<ref name="ep14x24">{{Cite web |last=Bibel |first=Sara |title=Wednesday Final Ratings: ''MasterChef'', ''Modern Family'', ''Criminal Minds'' & ''Law & Order: SVU'' Adjusted Up; ''How To Live With Your Parents'' Adjusted Down |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/05/23/wednesday-final-ratings-masterchef-modern-family-criminal-minds-how-to-live-with-your-parents-adjusted-down/183884/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607114326/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/05/23/wednesday-final-ratings-masterchef-modern-family-criminal-minds-how-to-live-with-your-parents-adjusted-down/183884/ |archive-date=June 7, 2013 |access-date=May 24, 2013 |website=[[TV by the Numbers]]}}</ref>
| season14          = 2012–13
| rank14            = 56
| viewers14         = 7.30<ref name="season12-13">{{Cite web |last=Bibel |first=Sara |date=May 29, 2013 |title=Complete List Of 2012–13 Season TV Show Viewership: ''Sunday Night Football'' Tops, Followed By ''NCIS'', ''The Big Bang Theory'' & ''NCIS: Los Angeles'' |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/05/29/complete-list-of-2012-13-season-tv-show-viewership-sunday-night-football-tops-followed-by-ncis-the-big-bang-theory-ncis-los-angeles/184781/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130628043440/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/05/29/complete-list-of-2012-13-season-tv-show-viewership-sunday-night-football-tops-followed-by-ncis-the-big-bang-theory-ncis-los-angeles/184781/ |archive-date=June 28, 2013 |access-date=May 29, 2013 |website=[[TV by the Numbers]]}}</ref>
| 18_49_rank14      = 
| 18_49_rating14    = 

| link15         = Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (season 15)
| episodes15     = 24
| start15        = {{Start date|2013|9|25}}
| startrating15  = 9.58<ref name="Episode15x0102">{{Cite web |last=Kondolojy |first=Amanda |date=September 26, 2013 |title=Wednesday Final Ratings: ''The Middle'', ''Modern Family'' and ''Survivor'' Adjusted Up; ''Nashville'' & ''CSI'' Adjusted Down |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/09/26/wednesday-final-ratings-the-middle-modern-family-and-survivor-adjusted-up-nashville-csi-adjusted-down/205000 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130929011802/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/09/26/wednesday-final-ratings-the-middle-modern-family-and-survivor-adjusted-up-nashville-csi-adjusted-down/205000/ |archive-date=September 29, 2013 |access-date=September 26, 2013 |website=[[TV by the Numbers]]}}</ref>
| end15          = {{End date|2014|5|21}}
| endrating15    = 6.39<ref name="15x24">{{Cite web |last=Kondolojy |first=Amanda |date=May 22, 2014 |title=Wednesday Final Ratings: ''Survivor'', ''The Middle'' & ''Modern Family'' Adjusted Up; ''Survivor'' Reunion Adjusted Down |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2014/05/22/wednesday-final-ratings-survivor-the-middle-survivor-reunion-adjusted-down/266571/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140724002516/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2014/05/22/wednesday-final-ratings-survivor-the-middle-survivor-reunion-adjusted-down/266571/ |archive-date=July 24, 2014 |access-date=May 22, 2014 |website=[[TV by the Numbers]]}}</ref>
| season15       = 2013–14
| rank15         = 46
| viewers15      = 8.18<ref name="entertainment2014">{{Cite web |date=May 23, 2014 |title=Full 2013–14 Series Rankings |url=https://deadline.com/2014/05/tv-season-series-rankings-2013-full-list-2-733762/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190628232549/https://deadline.com/2014/05/tv-season-series-rankings-2013-full-list-2-733762/ |archive-date=June 28, 2019 |access-date=May 23, 2014 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref>
| 18_49_rank15   = 
| 18_49_rating15 = 

| link16         = Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (season 16)
| episodes16     = 23
| start16        = {{Start date|2014|9|24}}
| startrating16  = 10.07<ref name="Episode16x01">{{Cite web |last=Kondolojy |first=Amanda |date=September 25, 2014 |title=Wednesday Final Ratings: ''The Middle'', ''The Goldbergs'', ''Modern Family'', ''Law and Order: SVU'', & ''Red Band Society'' Adjusted Up |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2014/09/25/wednesday-final-ratings-the-middle-the-goldbergs-modern-family-law-and-order-svu-red-band-society-adjusted-up/306937 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140927062213/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2014/09/25/wednesday-final-ratings-the-middle-the-goldbergs-modern-family-law-and-order-svu-red-band-society-adjusted-up/306937/ |archive-date=September 27, 2014 |access-date=September 25, 2014 |website=[[TV by the Numbers]]}}</ref>
| end16          = {{End date|2015|5|20}}
| endrating16    = 6.96<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kondolojy |first=Amanda |date=May 21, 2015 |title=Wednesday Final Ratings: ''Survivor'', ''Survivor: Reunion'' & ''Modern Family'' Adjusted Up |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2015/05/21/wednesday-final-ratings-survivor-survivor-reunion-modern-family-adjusted-up/406776/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150525020605/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2015/05/21/wednesday-final-ratings-survivor-survivor-reunion-modern-family-adjusted-up/406776/ |archive-date=May 25, 2015 |access-date=May 21, 2015 |website=[[TV by the Numbers]]}}</ref>
| season16       = 2014–15
| rank16         = 52
| viewers16      = 8.71<ref name="entertainment2015">{{Cite web |last=de Moraes |first=Lisa |date=May 21, 2015 |title=Full 2014–15 TV Season Series Rankings: Football & ''Empire'' Ruled |url=https://deadline.com/2015/05/2014-15-full-tv-season-ratings-shows-rankings-1201431167/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150522054915/http://deadline.com/2015/05/2014-15-full-tv-season-ratings-shows-rankings-1201431167/ |archive-date=May 22, 2015 |access-date=May 22, 2015 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref>
| 18_49_rank16   = 
| 18_49_rating16 = 

| link17         = Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (season 17)
| episodes17     = 23
| start17        = {{Start date|2015|9|23}}
| startrating17  = 8.27<ref name="eps170102">{{Cite web |last=Kondolojy |first=Amanda |date=September 24, 2015 |title=Wednesday Final Ratings: ''Survivor'', ''Modern Family'' & ''Law and Order: SVU'' Adjusted Up; ''Nashville'' Adjusted Down |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2015/09/24/wednesday-final-ratings-survivor-modern-family-nashville-adjusted-down/471324/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116133709/https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/1/wednesday-final-ratings-survivor-modern-family-nashville-adjusted-down/471324/ |archive-date=November 16, 2018 |access-date=September 24, 2015 |website=[[TV by the Numbers]]}}</ref>
| end17          = {{End date|2016|5|25}}
| endrating17    = 7.19<ref name="17.23">{{Cite web |last=Porter |first=Rick |date=May 26, 2016 |title=Wednesday final ratings: ''SVU'' finale adjusts up, ''Supernatural'' finale adjusts down |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2016/05/26/wednesday-final-ratings-may-25-2016/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160528130310/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2016/05/26/wednesday-final-ratings-may-25-2016/ |archive-date=May 28, 2016 |access-date=May 26, 2016 |website=[[TV by the Numbers]]}}</ref>
| season17       = 2015–16
| rank17         = 52
| viewers17      = 8.31<ref name="entertainment2016">{{Cite web |last=de Moraes |first=Lisa |date=May 29, 2016 |title=Full 2015–16 TV Season Series Rankings: ''Blindspot'', ''Life In Pieces'' & ''Quantico'' Lead Newcomers |url=https://deadline.com/2016/05/tv-season-2015-2016-series-rankings-shows-full-list-1201763189/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160528121101/http://deadline.com/2016/05/tv-season-2015-2016-series-rankings-shows-full-list-1201763189/ |archive-date=May 28, 2016 |access-date=May 26, 2016 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref>
| 18_49_rank17   = 
| 18_49_rating17 = 

| link18         = Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (season 18)
| episodes18     = 21
| start18        = {{Start date|2016|9|21}}
| startrating18  = 7.83<ref>{{Cite web |last=Porter |first=Rick |date=September 22, 2016 |title=Wednesday final ratings: ''Empire'' adjusts up, ''Designated Survivor'' adjusts down |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2016/09/22/wednesday-final-ratings-sept-21-2016/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923092535/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2016/09/22/wednesday-final-ratings-sept-21-2016/ |archive-date=September 23, 2016 |access-date=September 22, 2016 |website=[[TV by the Numbers]]}}</ref>
| end18          = {{End date|2017|5|24}}
| endrating18    = 6.22<ref>{{Cite web |last=Porter |first=Rick |date=May 25, 2017 |title=''Empire'' finale and ''Dirty Dancing'' adjust up, ''Survivor'' reunion adjusts down: Wednesday final ratings |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/wednesday-final-ratings-may-24-2017/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525215520/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/wednesday-final-ratings-may-24-2017/ |archive-date=May 25, 2017 |access-date=May 25, 2017 |website=[[TV by the Numbers]]}}</ref>
| season18       = 2016–17
| rank18         = 48
| viewers18      = 7.39<ref name="entertainment2017">{{Cite web |date=May 26, 2017 |title=Final 2016–17 TV Rankings: ''Sunday Night Football'' Winning Streak Continues |url=https://deadline.com/2017/05/2016-2017-tv-season-ratings-series-rankings-list-1202102340/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170608095937/http://deadline.com/2017/05/2016-2017-tv-season-ratings-series-rankings-list-1202102340/ |archive-date=June 8, 2017 |access-date=May 26, 2017 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref>
| 18_49_rank18   = 
| 18_49_rating18 = 

| link19         = Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (season 19)
| episodes19     = 24
| start19        = {{Start date|2017|9|27}}
| startrating19  = 5.67<ref name="19.01">{{Cite web |last=Porter |first=Rick |date=September 28, 2017 |title=''Survivor'' premiere adjusts up: Wednesday final ratings |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/wednesday-final-ratings-sept-27-2017/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171001055547/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/wednesday-final-ratings-sept-27-2017/ |archive-date=October 1, 2017 |access-date=September 28, 2017 |website=[[TV by the Numbers]]}}</ref>
| end19          = {{End date|2018|5|23}}
| endrating19    = 6.12<ref name="19.23&19.24">{{Cite web |last=Porter |first=Rick |date=May 24, 2018 |title=''Empire'' and ''Star'' finales adjust up, ''Survivor'' reunion down: Wednesday final ratings |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/wednesday-final-ratings-may-23-2018/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180525001548/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/wednesday-final-ratings-may-23-2018/ |archive-date=May 25, 2018 |access-date=May 24, 2018 |website=[[TV by the Numbers]]}}</ref>
| season19       = 2017–18
| rank19         = 39
| viewers19      = 8.57<ref name="entertainment2018">{{Cite web |date=May 22, 2018 |title=2017–18 TV Series Ratings Rankings: NFL Football, ''Big Bang'' Top Charts |url=https://deadline.com/2018/05/2017-2018-tv-series-ratings-rankings-full-list-of-shows-1202395851/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180523031012/http://deadline.com/2018/05/2017-2018-tv-series-ratings-rankings-full-list-of-shows-1202395851/ |archive-date=May 23, 2018 |access-date=May 22, 2018 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref>
| 18_49_rank19   = 
| 18_49_rating19 = 

| link20            = Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (season 20)
| timeslot20        = Thursday 10:00{{nbsp}}p.m.
| timeslot_length20 = 2
| episodes20        = 24
| start20           = {{Start date|2018|9|27}}
| startrating20     = 5.09<ref>{{Cite web |last=Welch |first=Alex |date=September 28, 2018 |title=''Grey's Anatomy'', ''Big Bang Theory'', and ''Thursday Night Football'' adjust up: Thursday final ratings |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/thursday-final-ratings-sept-27-2018/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180929000531/https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/thursday-final-ratings-sept-27-2018/ |archive-date=September 29, 2018 |access-date=September 28, 2018 |website=[[TV by the Numbers]]}}</ref>
| end20             = {{End date|2019|5|16}}
| endrating20       = 3.58<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rejent |first=Joseph |date=May 17, 2019 |title=''Paradise Hotel'', ''The Big Bang Theory'' finale adjust up, ''Young Sheldon'' adjusts down: Thursday final ratings |url=https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/thursday-final-ratings-may-16-2019/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190517210539/https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/thursday-final-ratings-may-16-2019/ |archive-date=May 17, 2019 |access-date=May 17, 2019 |website=[[TV by the Numbers]]}}</ref>
| season20          = 2018–19
| rank20            = 51
| viewers20         = 7.41<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schneider |first=Michael |date=May 22, 2019 |title=100 most-Watched TV Shows of 2018–19: Winners and Losers |url=https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/most-watched-tv-shows-highest-rated-2018-2019-season-game-of-thrones-1203222287/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190704021838/https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/most-watched-tv-shows-highest-rated-2018-2019-season-game-of-thrones-1203222287/ |archive-date=July 4, 2019 |access-date=July 10, 2019 |website=Variety}}</ref>
| 18_49_rank20      = 
| 18_49_rating20    = 

| link21         = Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (season 21)
| episodes21     = 20
| start21        = {{Start date|2019|9|26}}
| startrating21  = 3.84<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rejent |first=Joseph |date=September 28, 2019 |title=''Young Sheldon'' adjusts up, ''A Million Little Things'' and ''Evil'' adjust down: Thursday final ratings |url=https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/thursday-final-ratings-september-26-2019/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190928220146/https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/thursday-final-ratings-september-26-2019/ |archive-date=September 28, 2019 |access-date=November 6, 2019 |website=[[TV by the Numbers]]}}</ref>
| end21          = {{End date|2020|4|23}}
| endrating21    = 3.69<ref>{{Cite web |last=Metcalf |first=Mitch |date=April 24, 2020 |title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Thursday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 4.23.2020 |url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-thursday-cable-originals-network-finals-4-23-2020.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200424202533/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-thursday-cable-originals-network-finals-4-23-2020.html |archive-date=April 24, 2020 |access-date=April 24, 2020 |website=Showbuzz Daily}}</ref>
| season21       = 2019–20
| rank21         = 55
| viewers21      = 6.46<ref name="2019-20-Ratings">{{Cite web |last=Porter |first=Rick |date=June 4, 2020 |title=TV Ratings: 7-Day Season Averages for Every 2019–20 Broadcast Series |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/tv-ratings-7-day-season-averages-2019-20-broadcast-series-1297228 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200605234104/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/tv-ratings-7-day-season-averages-2019-20-broadcast-series-1297228 |archive-date=June 5, 2020 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref>
| 18_49_rank21   = 
| 18_49_rating21 = 

| link22         = Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (season 22)
| timeslot22     = Thursday 9:00{{nbsp}}p.m.
| timeslot_length22 = 5
| episodes22     = 16
| start22        = {{Start date|2020|11|12}}
| startrating22  = 3.02<ref name="22.01">{{Cite web |last=Metcalf |first=Mitch |date=November 13, 2020 |title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Thursday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 11.12.2020 |url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-thursday-cable-originals-network-finals-11-12-2020.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201113210905/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-thursday-cable-originals-network-finals-11-12-2020.html |archive-date=November 13, 2020 |access-date=November 13, 2020 |website=Showbuzz Daily}}</ref>
| end22          = {{End date|2021|6|3}}
| endrating22    = 4.23<ref name="22.16">{{Cite web |last=Bauder |first=David |date=June 8, 2021 |title=Former president Trump returns as a diminished TV draw |url=https://apnews.com/article/tv-donald-trump-sports-entertainment-nba-35a372ff9ac66b7f2201afa42c33bf08 |access-date=June 8, 2021 |publisher=[[Associated Press]] |archive-date=June 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210608233502/https://apnews.com/article/tv-donald-trump-sports-entertainment-nba-35a372ff9ac66b7f2201afa42c33bf08 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| season22       = 2020–21
| rank22         = 34
| viewers22      = 6.78<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Porter |first=Rick |date=June 8, 2021 |title=2020–21 TV Ratings: Complete 7-Day Ratings for Broadcast Network Series |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/2020-21-tv-ratings-every-network-show-ranked-1234964854/ |url-status=live |magazine=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210609002528/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/2020-21-tv-ratings-every-network-show-ranked-1234964854/ |archive-date=June 9, 2021}}</ref>
| 18_49_rank22   = 14
| 18_49_rating22 = 1.4

| link23         = Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (season 23)
| episodes23     = 22
| start23        = {{Start date|2021|9|23}}
| startrating23  = 5.57<ref name="23.01-02">{{Cite web |last=Metcalf |first=Mitch |author-link=Mitch Metcalf |date=September 24, 2021 |title=SHOWBUZZDAILY's Thursday 9.23.2021 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals UPDATED |url=https://showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-thursday-9-23-2021-top-150-cable-originals-network-finals.html |website=[[Showbuzz Daily]] |access-date=October 8, 2021 |archive-date=September 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210924201856/https://showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-thursday-9-23-2021-top-150-cable-originals-network-finals.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
| end23          = {{End date|2022|5|19}}
| endrating23    = 4.52<ref name="23.22">{{Cite web |last=Metcalf |first=Mitch |date=May 20, 2022 |title=ShowBuzzDaily's Thursday 5.19.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated |url=https://showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-thursday-5-19-2022-top-150-cable-originals-network-finals.html |access-date=May 22, 2022 |website=Showbuzz Daily |archive-date=May 31, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531013546/https://showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-thursday-5-19-2022-top-150-cable-originals-network-finals.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
| season23       = 2021–22
| rank23         = 29
| viewers23      = 6.83<ref>{{Cite web |last=Porter |first=Rick |date=June 8, 2022 |title=2021–22 TV Ratings: Final Seven-Day Numbers for Every Network Series |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/2021-22-tv-ratings-every-network-series-ranked-1235161738/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220609001940/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/2021-22-tv-ratings-every-network-series-ranked-1235161738/ |archive-date=June 9, 2022 |access-date=June 9, 2022 |website=The Hollywood Reporter}}</ref>
| 18_49_rank23   = 
| 18_49_rating23 = 

| link24         = Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (season 24)
| episodes24     = 22
| start24        = {{Start date|2022|9|22}}
| startrating24  = 5.47<ref>{{Cite web |last=Metcalf |first=Mitch |date=September 23, 2022 |title=SHOWBUZZDAILY's Thursday 9.22.2022 |url=https://showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-thursday-9-22-2022-top-150-cable-originals-network-finals.html |access-date=September 23, 2022 |publisher=Showbuzz Daily |archive-date=September 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220925183659/https://showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-thursday-9-22-2022-top-150-cable-originals-network-finals.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
| end24          = {{End date|2023|5|18}}
| endrating24    = 4.37<ref name="24.22">{{Cite web |last=Metcalf |first=Mitch |date=May 19, 2023 |title=ShowBuzzDaily's Thursday 5.18.2023 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals |url=https://showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-thursday-5-18-2023-top-150-cable-originals-network-finals.html |access-date=May 19, 2023 |website=Showbuzz Daily |archive-date=May 31, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230531011231/https://showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-thursday-5-18-2023-top-150-cable-originals-network-finals.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
| season24       = 2022–23
| rank24         = 21
| viewers24      = 6.89<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 7, 2023 |title=TV Ratings 2022–23: Final Seven-Day Averages for Every Network Series |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/tv-ratings-2022-23-every-primetime-network-show-ranked-1235508593/ |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=June 30, 2023 |archive-date=June 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629195858/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/tv-ratings-2022-23-every-primetime-network-show-ranked-1235508593 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| 18_49_rank24   = 
| 18_49_rating24 = 

| link25         = Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (season 25)
| episodes25     = 13
| start25        = {{Start date|2024|1|18}}
| startrating25  = 5.66<ref name="25.01">{{cite web|url=https://programminginsider.com/thursday-ratings-nbc-prevails-with-the-return-of-its-law-order-trio/|title=Thursday Ratings: NBC Prevails With the Return of its ''Law & Order'' Trio|work=Programming Insider|first=Douglas|last=Pucci|date=January 19, 2024|access-date=January 22, 2024|archive-date=January 23, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240123005739/https://programminginsider.com/thursday-ratings-nbc-prevails-with-the-return-of-its-law-order-trio/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| end25          = {{End date|2024|5|16}}
| endrating25    = 4.14<ref name="25.13">{{cite web|url=https://programminginsider.com/thursday-ratings-young-sheldon-on-cbs-reaches-four-year-high-with-series-finale/|title=Thursday Ratings: ''Young Sheldon'' on CBS Reaches Four-Year High with Series Finale|work=Programming Insider|first=Douglas|last=Pucci|date=May 17, 2024|access-date=May 17, 2024}}</ref>
| season25       = 2023–24
| rank25         =20 
| viewers25      =6.86<ref>{{Cite web |last=Porter |first=Rick |date=2024-06-11 |title=TV Ratings 2023-24: Final Numbers for (Almost) Every Network Series |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/tv-ratings-2023-24-primetime-network-show-rankings-1235919819/ |access-date=2024-07-19 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref>
| 18_49_rank25   =10 
| 18_49_rating25 =0.8 

| link26         = Law & Order: Special Victims Unit season 26
| episodes26     = 22
| start26        = {{Start date|2024|10|3}}
| startrating26  = 3.81<ref name="26.01">{{cite web|url=https://programminginsider.com/thursday-ratings-abc-edges-past-nbcs-lineup-of-season-premieres/|title=Thursday Ratings: ABC Edges Past NBC's Lineup of Season Premieres|work=Programming Insider|first=Douglas|last=Pucci|date=October 4, 2024|access-date=October 4, 2024}}</ref>
| end26          = {{End date|2025|5|15}}
| endrating26    = 3.99<ref name="26.22">{{cite web|url=https://programminginsider.com/thursday-ratings-georgie-mandys-first-marriage-on-cbs-rises-in-season-finale/|title=Thursday Ratings: ''Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage'' on CBS Rises in Season Finale|work=Programming Insider|last=Pucci|first=Douglas|date=May 16, 2025|access-date=May 16, 2025}}</ref>
| season26       = 2024–25
| rank26         =
| viewers26      =
| 18_49_rank26   =
| 18_49_rating26 =
}}
In 2016, a ''[[New York Times]]'' study of the 50 TV shows with the most [[Facebook like]]s found that ''SVU''{{'}}s popularity was "atypical: generally slightly more popular in rural areas and the South, but largely restricted to the eastern half of the country. It is most popular in [[Albany, N.Y.]]; least in Colorado and Utah".<ref name="katz20161227">{{Cite web |last=Katz |first=Josh |date=December 27, 2016 |title=''Duck Dynasty'' vs. ''Modern Family'': 50 Maps of the U.S. Cultural Divide |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/12/26/upshot/duck-dynasty-vs-modern-family-television-maps.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170329083111/http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/12/26/upshot/duck-dynasty-vs-modern-family-television-maps.html |archive-date=March 29, 2017 |access-date=March 2, 2017 |website=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>

===Awards and honors===
{{Main|List of awards and nominations received by Law & Order: Special Victims Unit}}

''Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'' has received many awards and award nominations. [[Mariska Hargitay]] has twice been nominated for a [[Golden Globe Award]] and won once in 2005.<ref name="Golden Globe Awards">{{Cite web |title=Golden Globe Wins: Law & Order: Special Victims Unit |url=http://www.goldenglobes.org/browse/film/25983 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120801144027/http://www.goldenglobes.org/browse/film/25983 |archive-date=August 1, 2012 |access-date=December 14, 2009}}</ref>

The show has been nominated numerous times for the [[Emmy Award]]. [[Mariska Hargitay]] has been nominated for the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series category eight years in a row beginning in 2004 and won the Emmy in 2006. [[Christopher Meloni]] was nominated for the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series category in 2006. [[Robin Williams]] was nominated in the Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series in 2008. The series was nominated in the category Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for [[Jane Alexander]] and [[Tracy Pollan]] in 2000, [[Martha Plimpton]] in 2002, [[Barbara Barrie]] in 2003, [[Mare Winningham]] and [[Marlee Matlin]] in 2004, [[Amanda Plummer]] and [[Angela Lansbury]] in 2005, [[Marcia Gay Harden]] and [[Leslie Caron]] in 2007, [[Cynthia Nixon]] in 2008, [[Ellen Burstyn]], [[Brenda Blethyn]], and [[Carol Burnett]] in 2009, and [[Ann-Margret]] in 2010. The series won the award for Plummer in 2005, Caron in 2007, Nixon in 2008, Burstyn in 2009, and Ann-Margret in 2010.<ref name="emmy">{{Cite web |title=SVU Emmy Nominations |url=http://www.emmys.com/shows/law-order-special-victims-unit |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140821162727/http://www.emmys.com/shows/law-order-special-victims-unit |archive-date=August 21, 2014 |access-date=December 27, 2012 |publisher=Academy of Television Arts & Sciences}}</ref>

=== Critical reception ===
''Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'' has been well-received among critics. The show holds an average score of 88% on ''[[Rotten Tomatoes]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/law_and_order_special_victims_unit |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |access-date=May 10, 2020 |archive-date=June 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200614185636/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/law_and_order_special_victims_unit |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Metacritic]] gives a score of 66%, from 25 critics review.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Metacritic |url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/law-order-special-victims-unit/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240114140328/https://www.metacritic.com/tv/law-order-special-victims-unit/ |archive-date=January 14, 2024 |access-date=February 2, 2024 |website=[[Metacritic]]}}</ref>

In 2014, over 14 years after the show's debut, Joshua Alston of ''[[The A.V. Club]]'' wrote it that "while ''SVU'' isn't yet television's best cop show, it’s absolutely its most improved, and that uptick in quality is all the more admirable given that, as the only ''L&O'' game in town, it could have just as easily embraced predictability rather than injecting a risky new energy".<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 6, 2014 |title=L&O: SVU is TV's most improved crime drama |url=https://www.avclub.com/l-o-svu-is-tvs-most-improved-crime-drama-1798179804 |access-date=2021-01-07 |website=TV Club |language=en-us |archive-date=January 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108193724/https://tv.avclub.com/l-o-svu-is-tvs-most-improved-crime-drama-1798179804 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Russian adaptation==
In 2007, the Russian production company Studio 2B purchased the rights to create an adaptation of ''Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'' for Russian television. Titled ''Law & Order: Division of Field Investigation'',{{efn|{{langx|ru|link=no|Закон и порядок: отдел оперативных расследований}}, {{Lang|ru-Latn|Zakon i poryadok: otdel operativnykh rassledovaniy}}}} the series stars Alisa Bogart and Vica Fiorelia. It follows a unit of investigators in Moscow whose job is to investigate crimes of a sexual nature. The series aired on [[NTV (Russia)|NTV]] until 2010 and was produced by Pavel Korchagin, Felix Kleiman and Edward Verzbovski and directed by Dmitry Brusnikin. The screenplays were written by Sergei Kuznvetsov, Elena Karavaeshnikova, and Maya Shapovalova.<ref name="Russian series">{{Cite web |script-title=ru:Главная страница |url=http://www.orderlaw.narod.ru/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090421233358/http://www.orderlaw.narod.ru/ |archive-date=April 21, 2009 |access-date=December 14, 2009 |language=ru}}</ref>

==Spin-off==
{{main|Law & Order: Organized Crime}}
On March 31, 2020, it was announced that NBC had ordered an untitled spin-off series to launch in the 2020–21 television season, with [[Christopher Meloni]] reprising his role as [[Elliot Stabler]]. Meloni left ''SVU'' in 2011. The series order consists of 13 episodes.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 31, 2020 |title=Christopher Meloni As 'SVU' Character Elliot Stabler To Headline New Dick Wolf Drama Series For NBC |url=https://deadline.com/2020/03/christopher-meloni-returns-new-dick-wolf-series-elliot-stabler-nbc-law-order-svu-1202896323/ |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |language=en |access-date=March 31, 2020 |archive-date=June 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200617212117/https://deadline.com/2020/03/christopher-meloni-returns-new-dick-wolf-series-elliot-stabler-nbc-law-order-svu-1202896323/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On June 2, 2020, it was announced that the series would be called ''Law & Order: Organized Crime'' and writer Craig Gore had been fired.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Throne |first=Will |date=June 2, 2020 |title=Dick Wolf Fires Writer From 'Law & Order' Spinoff for Threatening to 'Light Up' Looters |url=https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/dick-wolf-craig-gore-fired-law-and-order-spinoff-controversial-facebook-posts-1234623190/ |access-date=June 11, 2020 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |archive-date=June 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616025425/https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/dick-wolf-craig-gore-fired-law-and-order-spinoff-controversial-facebook-posts-1234623190/ |url-status=live }}</ref> When NBC announced its fall schedule on June 16, ''Organized Crime'' was the only new show on the schedule, slotted for Thursdays at 10/9c.<ref name="Spinoff">{{Cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=June 16, 2020 |title=NBC Fall 2020 Schedule: Addition Of 'Law & Order: SVU' Spinoff Starring Christopher Meloni Marks Only Change |url=https://deadline.com/2020/06/nbc-fall-2020-schedule-addition-of-law-order-svu-spinoff-starring-christopher-meloni-marks-only-change-1202960490/ |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |access-date=June 16, 2020 |archive-date=June 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616182558/https://deadline.com/2020/06/nbc-fall-2020-schedule-addition-of-law-order-svu-spinoff-starring-christopher-meloni-marks-only-change-1202960490/ |url-status=live }}</ref> However, the series was later delayed to 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=August 27, 2020 |title=NBC Sets Premiere Dates For Tweaked Fall Schedule; Scripted Series Delayed; 'New Amsterdam', 'Brooklyn', 'Manifest', 'Law & Order: Organized Crime' Held For 2021 |url=https://deadline.com/2020/08/nbc-premiere-dates-tweaked-fall-schedule-this-is-us-chicago-superstore-new-amsterdam-brooklyn-nine-nine-manifest-law-order-organized-crime-held-2021-1203025100/ |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |access-date=August 31, 2020 |archive-date=May 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501011747/https://deadline.com/2020/08/nbc-premiere-dates-tweaked-fall-schedule-this-is-us-chicago-superstore-new-amsterdam-brooklyn-nine-nine-manifest-law-order-organized-crime-held-2021-1203025100/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On October 2, 2020, it was announced that [[Matt Olmstead]] would be stepping down as showrunner and a replacement was not announced at the time.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roots |first=Kimberly |date=October 2, 2020 |title=Law & Order: Organized Crime EP Matt Olmstead Steps Down as Showrunner on Chris Meloni-Led SVU Spinoff |url=https://tvline.com/2020/10/02/law-and-order-organized-crime-matt-olmstead-showrunner-stepping-down-season-1-nbc/ |access-date=October 3, 2020 |website=TVLine |language=en-US |archive-date=October 5, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201005104755/https://tvline.com/2020/10/02/law-and-order-organized-crime-matt-olmstead-showrunner-stepping-down-season-1-nbc/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On December 9, 2020, it was announced that [[Ilene Chaiken]] has joined as showrunner after her overall deal with [[Universal Television]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=December 9, 2020 |title=Ilene Chaiken Inks Overall Deal With Universal Television, Joins 'Law & Order: Organized Crime' As Showrunner |url=https://deadline.com/2020/12/ilene-chaiken-overall-deal-universal-television-showrunner-law-order-organized-crime-1234653426/ |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |access-date=December 10, 2020 |archive-date=December 10, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201210011908/https://deadline.com/2020/12/ilene-chaiken-overall-deal-universal-television-showrunner-law-order-organized-crime-1234653426/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Dylan McDermott]] was announced on January 27, 2021, as joining the cast in an unspecified role.<ref>{{Cite web |last=White |first=Peter |date=January 27, 2021 |title=Dylan McDermott Joins NBC's 'Law & Order: Organized Crime' |url=https://deadline.com/2021/01/dylan-mcdermott-nbc-law-order-organized-crime-1234681821/ |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |access-date=January 27, 2021 |archive-date=January 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127221749/https://deadline.com/2021/01/dylan-mcdermott-nbc-law-order-organized-crime-1234681821/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Porter |first=Rick |date=January 27, 2021 |title=Dylan McDermott Boards 'Law & Order: Organized Crime' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/dylan-mcdermott-boards-law-order-organized-crime |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=January 27, 2021 |archive-date=January 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127223653/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/dylan-mcdermott-boards-law-order-organized-crime |url-status=live }}</ref> On February 2, 2021, [[Tamara Taylor]] was cast in an undisclosed role.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=February 2, 2021 |title='Law & Order: Organized Crime': Tamara Taylor Joins NBC's 'SVU' Spinoff |url=https://deadline.com/2021/02/law-order-organized-crime-tamara-taylor-cast-nbc-svu-spinoff-1234685824/ |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |access-date=February 3, 2021 |archive-date=February 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202232849/https://deadline.com/2021/02/law-order-organized-crime-tamara-taylor-cast-nbc-svu-spinoff-1234685824/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On February 4, 2021, it was announced that the series would premiere on April 1, 2021, in a two-hour crossover event.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Erik |first=Pedersen |date=February 4, 2021 |title='Law & Order: Organized Crime' Sets NBC Premiere With 'SVU' Crossover, Releases First Look At Christopher Meloni As Elliot Stabler |url=https://deadline.com/2021/02/law-order-organized-crime-premiere-date-christopher-meloni-first-look-as-elliot-stabler-svu-crossover-1234687450/ |access-date=February 4, 2021 |website=Deadline Hollywood |archive-date=February 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204183608/https://deadline.com/2021/02/law-order-organized-crime-premiere-date-christopher-meloni-first-look-as-elliot-stabler-svu-crossover-1234687450/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Explanatory notes ==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
=== Citations ===
{{reflist}}

=== General and cited references ===
* {{Cite book |last1=Green |first1=Susan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zt4WqrgXI9gC |title=Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: The Unofficial Companion |last2=Dawn |first2=Randee |publisher=BenBella Books |year=2009 |isbn=978-1-933771-88-5 |location=Dallas |oclc=429604907}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{Official website|https://wolfentertainment.com/television/current/law-order-svu/}} on [[Wolf Entertainment]]
* {{Official website}} on [[NBC]]
* {{IMDb title}}
* {{Epguides|LawandOrderSVU}}
* [https://www.metacritic.com/tv/law-order-special-victims-unit ''Law & Order: Special Victims Unit''] on [[Metacritic]]
* [https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/law_and_order_special_victims_unit ''Law & Order: Special Victims Unit''] on [[Rotten Tomatoes]]
* {{Cite web |title=List of ''Law & Order: SVU'' Episodes |url=https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/law-order-special-victims-unit/100257 |website=[[TV Guide]]}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120107111650/http://www.mynetworktv.com/shows.php?show=156 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit] on [[MyNetworkTV]]

{{Law & Order: Special Victims Unit}}
{{NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Drama Series}}
{{Law & Order franchise}}
{{Chicago franchise}}
{{Dick Wolf}}
{{NBCNetwork Shows (current and upcoming)}}
{{Portal bar|Television|United States}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Law and Order: Special Victims Unit}}
[[Category:Law & Order: Special Victims Unit]]
[[Category:1990s American crime drama television series]]
[[Category:1990s American legal drama television series]]
[[Category:1990s American LGBTQ-related drama television series]]
[[Category:1990s American mystery television series]]
[[Category:1990s American police procedural television series]]
[[Category:1999 American television series debuts]]
[[Category:2000s American crime drama television series]]
[[Category:2000s American legal drama television series]]
[[Category:2000s American LGBTQ-related drama television series]]
[[Category:2000s American mystery television series]]
[[Category:2000s American police procedural television series]]
[[Category:2010s American crime drama television series]]
[[Category:2010s American legal drama television series]]
[[Category:2010s American LGBTQ-related drama television series]]
[[Category:2010s American mystery television series]]
[[Category:2010s American police procedural television series]]
[[Category:2020s American crime drama television series]]
[[Category:2020s American legal drama television series]]
[[Category:2020s American LGBTQ-related drama television series]]
[[Category:2020s American mystery television series]]
[[Category:2020s American police procedural television series]]
[[Category:Television shows about adultery]]
[[Category:American television spinoffs]]
[[Category:American thriller television series]]
[[Category:Edgar Award–winning works]]
[[Category:American English-language television shows]]
[[Category:Fictional portrayals of the New York City Police Department]]
[[Category:Television shows about incest]]
[[Category:Law & Order (franchise) television series]]
[[Category:New York Supreme Court]]
[[Category:Primetime Emmy Award–winning television series]]
[[Category:Television shows about rape]]
[[Category:Television Academy Honors winners]]
[[Category:Television series about prosecutors]]
[[Category:Television series based on actual events]]
[[Category:Television series by Universal Television]]
[[Category:Television series by Wolf Films]]
[[Category:Television series created by Dick Wolf]]
[[Category:Television shows set in Manhattan]]
[[Category:Television shows set in New York City]]
[[Category:Transgender-related television shows]]
[[Category:NBC crime dramas]]