Hope in the darkness.
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.
CreatorDick Wolf
Next episode
October 8, 2026
Payback
Sep 20, 1999
Detectives Stabler and Benson investigate the murder and dismemberment of a taxi driver; the team discovers that he may have been a vicious Serbian war criminal living in the United States under a false identity.
A Single Life
Sep 27, 1999
Benson and Stabler run into multiple dead ends while investigating the case of a woman who plummeted six stories to her death clad only in a slip.
...Or Just Look Like One
Oct 4, 1999
When a teen model is murdered and another is left for dead at a hospital emergency room, the team uncovers an insidious drug and sex conspiracy in the world of high fashion. Benson and Stabler enter into a modeling underworld of thoughtless parents, drug-dealing doctors and a trendy agency executive.
Hysteria
Oct 11, 1999
When a young African-American woman is found dead, she is initially believed to be a prostitute and the latest in a long line of victims, but when looking into her home life Benson and Stabler realize that she does not fit the pattern, and may not be connected to the other deaths after all, but the other deaths have a connection no one anticipated.
Wanderlust
Oct 18, 1999
When a world-traveling author is found dead in a room he rented from an alcoholic woman and her precocious 14-year-old daughter, the detectives are shocked to discover who the murderer is.
Sophomore Jinx
Oct 25, 1999
A female student at an upper-class university is raped and murdered, and two of the college's basketball stars are suspected. However, the college blocks their investigation at every turn because they are not willing to risk the negative publicity that the investigation could bring to the school and the upcoming championship.
Uncivilized
Nov 15, 1999
When a young boy is found raped and murdered in a field, suspicion leads detectives to a recently paroled child molester who lives in the neighborhood.. Although they both hate what the man has done in the past, it is soon obvious to the detectives that the teenagers who initially steered them in the man's direction are hiding secrets of their own.
Stalked
Nov 22, 1999
When an assistant district attorney is found raped and murdered in Central Park, the Special Victims Unit learn that she'd been stalked by a real estate agent whom she'd convicted of date rape. Benson lets her emotions get the best of her as she takes it upon herself to bring the suspected rapist to justice. Stabler tries to get the man's business partner to help him, but Benson may be the one who ends up needing help.
Stocks & Bondage
Nov 29, 1999
An investment analyst is found hanged in her bedroom, and the Special Victims Unit explores her sordid sexual past to uncover her murderer's identity. The team uncovers the world of bondage and sado-masochism where they first investigate the woman's colleagues but are soon on the trail of a host of individuals involved in the world of whips and chains.
Closure
Jan 7, 2000
When a woman is raped, she turns to the Special Victims Unit for help, but lack of evidence prevents them from apprehending the criminal. When the detectives revisit the case a few months later, they find the woman even less willing to talk about what happened, as she claims she has moved on. Things turn sticky when Benson and Cassidy spend the night together.
Bad Blood
Jan 14, 2000
A moral coalition leader's gay son is found murdered on the roof of his apartment building. Initially, Benson and Stabler investigate his father, a Conservative well-known for his homophobic viewpoints, but once they start looking into the young man's living arrangements they realize the person they're looking for may be closer than they think. Munch tries to help Benson find the man who raped her mother, and could potentially be her father.
Russian Love Poem
Jan 21, 2000
When a multi-millionaire is found strangled in his home, Benson and Stabler turn their suspicion to his long list of lovers, which includes both men and women. Detectives discover he was involved with a group of beautiful Russian women that came to the U.S. to take advantage of wealthy Americans.
Disrobed
Feb 4, 2000
A judge who fought for the rights of abused women is found shot in his car under sordid circumstances, and the detectives uncover a case of corruption that leads to the state parole board. The team soon turns their eye to a battered wife with a secret.
Limitations
Feb 11, 2000
At the request of a victim, the police commissioner comes to Cragen with a special request -- close the five-year-old case of a serial rapist before the statute of limitations expires. The detectives finally get a lead but the investigation is hindered by one of the victims.
Entitled (I)
Feb 18, 2000
After a salesman is murdered, the detectives turn their attention to the youngest daughter of a well-known family with some deep connections. But as they join forces with the officers from the two-seven, they realize that their case is connected with a long-unsolved case that Briscoe once handled years ago with his former partner Mike Logan. The crossover continues in Law & Order S10E14 Entitled (II).
The Third Guy
Feb 25, 2000
An elderly woman is found tied up and sexually assaulted in her apartment, and suspicion is initially on the young men that had broken into her home and robbed her, but once the detectives are surprised to learn that the rape was committed after the robbery – by someone else.
Misleader
Mar 31, 2000
The pregnant daughter-in-law of a Christian College president is murdered in her hotel room, and the detectives discover that the man had been involved in some very unholy activities.
Chat Room
Apr 14, 2000
When a teenage girl comes into the squad room to tell the detectives that she was raped by a man she met on the Internet, the investigation leads the Special Victims Unit to a network of pedophiles and child pornographers.
Contact
Apr 28, 2000
After seven young women in a six month time span are raped by a flash and dash assailant on the city subways, the brass calls in a psychiatrist to help the team get into the head of the perp. When he is caught, he possesses the driver's license of a new victim who could put him away.
Remorse
May 5, 2000
A female television news reporter decides to go public with her story when she attacked and raped by two men, but the decision proves to be fatal.
Nocturne
May 12, 2000
After a pharmacy turns over some disturbing photos of a young boy, a beloved neighborhood piano teacher is suspected of being a sexual predator who takes advantage of his innocent young students.
Slaves
May 21, 2000
A Romanian immigrant is being held as a psychological prisoner by her abusive employer and his wife, who is also traumatized by years of abuse and is willing to commit murder to protect her husband. A forensic psychologist analyzes the team, and presents disturbing findings to Cragen, suggesting that one of the detectives be removed from the team.
MovieGuys
@MovieGuys
This series is a poster child for the way the US wants the world, to perceive its justice system. Hard working, earnest police, backed by an imperfect but mostly well meaning, justice system. Of course, if you look behind the veil nothing could be further from the truth. The justice system and not just in the US, mind you is abusive and broken. More often than not failing victims and on a certain level, criminals, who often started out as victims of its indifference and outright cruelty. I find long running series like this one annoying, in so much as they largely, shore up establishment narratives, rather than exposing them, for what they are. Acting is reasonable but feels a little forced and unrealistic, at times. Its not helped by rather predictably, formulaic characterisations. In summary, I rate this series down not just because its somewhat formulaic and bland but because, in my view, it does the truth of the world we live in, a disservice. Things can only improve when reality is exposed for what it is, not buried beneath pro establishment, "the system mostly works" narratives.
Nicki
@nickicole365
**26 SEASONS** there's a reason SVU is the longest-running primetime live-action series on American television. Every year this show is a must watch. The storylines are compelling and the actors are usually current, former or up-and-coming stars. Some "fans" have complained about the changing of cast members but I think it's what keeps the show fresh. Hoping for many more seasons with Benson to come.
