Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999 — 2024)

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999–2024), often abbreviated to SVU, is an American police procedural crime drama TV series, created by Dick Wolf for NBC. It was the first spin-off of Law & Order, and starred Christopher Meloni as Detective Elliot Stabler until his departure in 2011, after 12 seasons. His partner in the show, Detective Olivia Benson (played by Mariska Hargitay), eventually became captain and now leads the Special Victims Unit. Meloni has since returned as Stabler in the spin-off series Law & Order: Organized Crime. Set at the NYPD’s 16th precinct in Manhattan, SVU delves into the seedy underbelly of New York City as detectives from a new elite squad investigate and prosecute sexually oriented crimes such as rape, child sexual abuse, human trafficking, and domestic violence. The team also handles cases involving vulnerable victims of non-sexual crimes like children, disabled individuals, and the elderly, all while trying to maintain a balance between their personal lives and the emotional toll of these disturbing investigations.

In addition to exploring themes of gender identity, sexual preferences, and equality rights, the stories in this series often touch on political and societal issues. While it is common for the victim to be murdered, there are also instances where this is not the case and the victim plays a significant role in the episode. The SVU unit works closely with the Manhattan District Attorney’s office to diligently prosecute cases and seek justice for survivors with a tenacious determination to bring closure to each intense investigation. This show often draws inspiration from real crimes by taking elements from ‘ripped from the headlines’ stories and fictionalizing them through minor alterations.