Created by Emmy Award-winning producer Dick Wolf, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," now in its 24th season, is the longest-running primetime live-action series of all time.   

This hard-hitting and emotional series from NBC's "Law & Order" brand chronicles the lives of the Special Victims Unit of the New York City Police Department, an elite squad of detectives who investigate crimes of sexual assault, child abuse and domestic violence.   

As commander of the SVU, Captain Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) is a seasoned veteran of the unit who has seen it all. She leads with empathy and professionalism, all the while dealing with her difficult past as a product of rape, and her responsibility as a trailblazer in survivor advocacy, both of which influence the way she relates to the victims and perpetrators of each case. Olivia Benson is the longest-running female character in a primetime live-action television series. 

Hargitay has garnered an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama, a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Television Drama Series, four Gracie Allen Awards for Outstanding Female Lead and a People's Choice Award for Favorite Drama TV Star for her portrayal of Olivia Benson. She was also honored with the Crystal Nymph Award at the Monte-Carlo TV Festival and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame next to the star of her mother, screen legend Jayne Mansfield.  

As Benson's second-in-command, Sergeant Odafin "Fin" Tutuola (Ice T) adds a unique sense of humor and undercover investigative experience, making him a formidable match for any partner, while Detectives Joe Velasco (Octavio Pisano) and Grace Muncy (Molly Burnett) learn the nuanced and sensitive approaches to working with sexual assault survivors. Assistant District Attorney Dominick "Sonny" Carisi (Peter Scanavino) brings a fresh outlook and distinctive style of investigation to his cases while navigating the politics of the DA's office.

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

"SVU" has won two Imagen Awards for Best Drama Program, one NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Drama Series, two Edgar Allan Poe Awards for Best Television Episode and six Prism Awards for the accurate depiction of substance abuse and mental illness, and five episodes have been nominated by the GLAAD Media Awards for outstanding representation of the LGBTQ community.  

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

Dick Wolf is creator and executive producer. David Graziano, Julie Martin, Mariska Hargitay, Norberto Barba, Kenneth Brown, Arthur Forney and Peter Jankowski executive produce. 

"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" is produced by Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, in association with Wolf Entertainment.

Credits

Day & Time 
Thursdays at 9/8c 

Season 24 Premiere 
September 22, 2022 

Series Premiere  
September 20, 1999 

Starring 
Mariska Hargitay, Ice T, Peter Scanavino, Octavio Pisano, Molly Burnett
 

Created By 
Dick Wolf 

Executive Producers 
Dick Wolf, David Graziano, Julie Martin, Mariska Hargitay, Norberto Barba, Kenneth Brown, Arthur Forney, Peter Jankowski 

Co-Executive Producers 
Brianna Yellen, Rebecca McGill 

Supervising Producers 
Mark Dragin, Brendan Feeney, Anastasia Puglisi, Margaret Lester 

Co-Producers 
Denis Hamill, Monet Hurst-Mendoza, Jonathan Strauss 

Associate Producer 
Julie Hrebec 

Executive Story Editors 
Kathy Dobie, Nolan Dunbar  

Editors 
Karen Stern, Leon Ortiz-Gil, Pietro Cecchini  

Director of Photography 
Feliks Parnell 

Production Designer 
Dan Davis 

Casting Directors 
Jonathan Strauss, Philip Huffman 

Music Composer 
Mike Post 

Origination 
New York

Produced By 
Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, in association with Wolf Entertainment