List of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit characters

The cast of the seventeenth season (2015–16). From left to right: Raúl Esparza, Kelli Giddish, Mariska Hargitay, Ice-T, Peter Scanavino.

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, a spin-off of the crime drama Law & Order, follows the detectives who work in the "Special Victims Unit" of the 16th Precinct of the New York City Police Department, a unit that focuses on crimes involving rape, sexual assault and child molestation, as well as any crime loosely connected with any of the three, such as domestic violence, kidnapping and child abandonment. Since its debut in September 1999, the series has generally shown four detectives working the unit, though at times, five, under the leadership of Captain Donald Cragen. The unit also has a prosecutor assigned from the DA's office, and frequently interacts with specific medical examiners and the unit's psychiatrist George Huang.

Three of the regular characters have appeared in three other NBC series: Captain Donald Cragen (Florek), who was on the first three seasons of Law & Order, Sergeant John Munch (Belzer), formerly a Baltimore detective on Homicide: Life on the Street. This character also made appearances on Law & Order, Law & Order: Trial by Jury, Arrested Development, The Beat, The X-Files and the HBO series The Wire. Alexandra Cabot (March) was a lead character in the first and only season of Conviction where she had been promoted to Bureau Chief ADA.

Creation and conception

The characters of Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler were named for creator Dick Wolf's children. Wolf's third child, daughter Sarina, had a character named for her, Benson's mother was named Serena, as well as former ADA Serena Southerlyn on the original Law & Order and Det. Serena Stevens on Law & Order: Criminal Intent.

Main characters

Key
Main Recurring Guest No appearances
Status Character Portrayer Occupation First episode
(credited) 		Final episode
(credited) 		Years Seasons No. of
episodes (credited)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
current Olivia Benson Mariska Hargitay Junior Detective (Seasons 1–12)
Senior Detective (Seasons 13–15)
Sergeant (Seasons 15–17)
Lieutenant (Seasons 17–) 		"Payback"
(1x01) 		— 1999– TBA 380
former Donald Cragen Dann Florek Captain (Seasons 1–15)"Perverted Justice"
(16x21)		 1999–2015 331
former John Munch Richard Belzer Senior Detective (Seasons 1–8)
Sergeant (Seasons 9–15)
DA Investigator (Season 15) 		"Spring Awakening"
(15x24) 		1999–2014 325
former Elliot Stabler Christopher Meloni Senior Detective "Smoked"
(12x24) 		1999–2011 272
former Monique Jeffries Michelle Hurd Junior Detective "Runaway"
(2x16) 		1999–2001 25
current Odafin Tutuola Ice-T Junior Detective (Seasons 2–8)
Senior Detective (Seasons 9–) 		"Wrong Is Right"
(2x01) 		— 2000– TBA 358
former Alexandra Cabot Stephanie March Assistant District Attorney "Learning Curve"
(13x21) 		2000–03,
2005,
2009–12 		96
current Melinda Warner Tamara Tunie Medical Examiner "Noncompliance"
(2x06) 		— 2000– 221
former George Huang B. D. Wong FBI Special Agent – Criminal Profiler "Pique"
(2x20) 		"Depravity Standard"
(17x09)[1] 		2001–15 230
former Casey Novak Diane Neal Assistant District Attorney "Serendipity"
(5x05) 		"Valentine's Day"
(13x18) 		2003–08,
2011–12 		112
former Chester Lake Adam Beach Junior Detective "Outsider"
(8x12) 		"Cold"
(9x19) 		2007–08 21
former Kim Greylek Michaela McManus Assistant District Attorney "Trials"
(10x01) 		"Zebras"
(10x22) 		2008–09 22
current Amanda Rollins Kelli Giddish Junior Detective "Scorched Earth"
(13x01) 		— 2011– TBA 108
former Nicholas Amaro Danny Pino Junior Detective "Surrendering Noah"
(16x23) 		2011–15 94
current Rafael Barba Raúl Esparza Assistant District Attorney "Twenty-Five Acts"
(14x03) 		— 2012– TBA 72
current Dominick Carisi, Jr. Peter Scanavino Junior Detective "Girls Disappeared"
(16x01) 		— 2014– TBA 36

Police

Olivia Benson

Olivia Benson has been portrayed by Mariska Hargitay since 1999.
Main article: Olivia Benson

Olivia Benson is a detective in the Manhattan Special Victims Unit, which investigates sex crimes. She is primarily partnered with Elliot Stabler, until he retires after Season 12. She is tough, empathetic,[2] and completely dedicated to her job, to the point that she is sometimes seen as having little personal life. Her dedication sometimes wreaks havoc on her emotional state as she empathizes with victims of sexual assault, having been the child of rape and later the victim of sexual assault while undercover in Season 9. She has allowed her compassion for victims of abuse to sometimes cloud her professional judgment and impede her ability to remain impartial. Hargitay has received both a Golden Globe and an Emmy Award for her portrayal of Benson.

In Season 13, Detectives Benson and Tutuola are the senior detectives in the precinct. Throughout the first few episodes of Season 13, she struggles to cope with the retirement of Stabler as she is more harsh and argumentative, as seen when she berates ADA Novak for "losing her nerve" after Novak said that Benson was "off." Her primary partner from Season 13 to 14 has been Nick Amaro, but is also seen working with Tutuola and Detective Amanda Rollins at times.

Upon the retirement of Sergeant Munch at the beginning of Season 15, Captain Cragen recommends to her that she should take the sergeant's exam, as she was now his second in command. In the episode, "Rapist Anonymous", she makes the announcement that she has passed the exam, officially making her a sergeant. After Cragen's retirement, she becomes acting commanding officer of SVU until she is subsequently promoted to Lieutenant in Season 17 and officially takes command of the unit. At the end of Season 15, she became a foster mother to Noah Porter, formally adopting him at the end of Season 16.

Fin Tutuola

Fin Tutuola has been portrayed by Ice-T since 2000.
Main article: Fin Tutuola

Odafin "Fin" Tutuola is a detective in the Manhattan Special Victims Unit. He was raised in Harlem and he served in the United States Army, where he saw combat in Mogadishu.[3][4] A former undercover narcotics detective, Tutuola replaced Monique Jeffries after she left the squad in 2000. He transferred out of narcotics after his partner was shot. He initially has a rocky relationship with his colleagues in SVU, especially his partner John Munch and Olivia Benson. He sees the world in black and white, with all criminals equally deserving of prison regardless of extenuating circumstances. He also keeps a tight rein on his emotions, refusing to talk about his problems or to admit that the grisly nature of his work often affects him. He rarely talks about his personal life, not revealing he has a son to his fellow detectives until the sixth season. As the series progresses, he becomes closer with Munch and even saves Benson from being raped while they were both undercover in Season 9. However, he also begins clashing more frequently with fellow detective Elliot Stabler. As of the Season 8 episode "Screwed", he is assigned Chester Lake as his new partner. After Lake kills a suspect, Stabler accuses Tutuola of tipping him off before he is taken into custody and checks his phone records. Tutuola admits he called Lake, but says he did not expect him to run. Stabler quasi-apologizes for not trusting him, but Tutuola dismisses his apology because he believes Stabler will always be the same "bulldog". Afterwards, he requests a transfer from the squad, however the man in charge of transfers is a former colleague of Tutuola's who holds a grudge against him. Tutuola resolves himself to being "stuck" and his captain, Don Cragen, orders him to investigate a case with Stabler, who he calls a "headcase" and "cranky-balls". As time has passed, Tutuola has again warmed to Stabler, a point proven in the Season 11 episode "Solitary", when a suspect throws Stabler off a roof, Tutuola nearly throttles the suspect for attacking his "friend".

After Lake's departure at the end of Season 9, Tutuola was again partnered with Sergeant Munch from Seasons 10 to 12, sometimes working alone or with Benson and Stabler when Munch was unavailable. Beginning in Season 13, Tutuola's primary partner is Detective Rollins.

Amanda Rollins

Amanda Rollins has been portrayed by Kelli Giddish since 2011.
Main article: Amanda Rollins

Amanda Rollins is a detective from Atlanta, Georgia, who moves to New York City to join the Special Victims Unit. Rollins appears to be a detective who is very anxious to do her job, often being told not to get ahead of herself by Detectives Benson and Amaro, and Captain Cragen.[6] She appears to have a good rapport with her partner, Detective Tutuola, compared to his last new partner, Chester Lake. Shortly after transferring to NYC, Rollins deals with a serial rapist case that had a familiar twist for her. Rollins tries to prove to Benson and Amaro that the rapist originated in Atlanta and has come to New York for new prey, almost falling victim to him in an attempt to flush him out, since he took a preference to blonde and athletic women.[7] When Rollins becomes distraught over a case where an actress is raped by one of the men in her life, Rollins asks Benson how she can trust any man after working this job. Benson reassures Rollins and tells her that she trusted her partner.[8]

As for Rollins' personal life, little is mentioned of her off-duty life (although, being from Atlanta, she is a fan of the Braves, whose schedule she keeps on her refrigerator door); Amanda has mentioned that she has a sister, Kim, who has had psychotic and drug issues. Kim has also suffered repeated abuse by her ex-boyfriend.[9] She says that while she was working in Atlanta, there was an accident that occurred that allowed for her to transfer to the SVU.[10] Amanda also was exposed as a heavy gambler in the episode "Home Invasions". When Cragen discovered her problem, he threatened to take her badge, but decided to help instead—since he is a recovering alcoholic—by requiring her to attend Gamblers Anonymous meetings.[11] Rollins' previously mentioned troubled sister, Kim (Lindsay Pulsipher), comes to New York in the Season 14 episode, "Friending Emily", causing problems for Amanda while she is trying to work a case. Later in the episode "Deadly Ambition", Kim returns to New York beaten by her ex-boyfriend Jeff and claiming to be pregnant (Later on she gives two versions of the supposed pregnancy; on one hand Amanda finds out she had lied about the pregnancy, Kim confessed that her period had been late causing her to think she was pregnant and on the other she tells Nick Amaro that she had lost the baby). When Amanda hears screams from inside her apartment, she finds Kim's ex-boyfriend attempting to rape Kim, and Amanda shoots and kills the man as he pulls a gun on her. After her initial interview with IAB Lt. Tucker, Kim changes her story, including revealing a life insurance policy on the ex-boyfriend with Amanda's name on it (later on is revealed that Kim forged Amanda’s signature because she thought that it would look suspicious if she was the sole beneficiary). Kim’s change of story from rape to accident is the result of finding out that neither she nor Amanda would get a penny from the insurance company if they found out that Jeff had died committing a crime. The supposed evidence of Amanda shooting Jeff in cold blood leads to Lt. Tucker arresting Amanda in Captain Cragen's office. The charges against Amanda are later dropped when Amaro tapes Kim confessing to setting Amanda up. Before Kim can be arrested, however, she steals everything from Amanda's apartment and disappears. In the episode "Poisoned Motive", Rollins is shot by a sniper in front of the precinct. Her shooting leads back to the daughter of Detective Tutuola's narcotics partner, who is out for revenge on the NYPD after her father was injured on the job by protecting Tutuola from a bullet.

In the Season 15 episode, "Rapist Anonymous", Rollins is caught in the middle of a case in which her friend from G.A. claims to have been raped. When the alleged rapist is killed, her friend is put on trial and Rollins' personal life is revealed on the stand. This proves too much for her to handle and she is seen gambling, smoking, and drinking in the final scene.

Dominick Carisi, Jr.

Main article: Dominick Carisi, Jr.

Detective Dominick "Sonny" Carisi, Jr. is introduced in the season 16 premiere, "Girls Disappeared." He originally serves as Detective Amaro's temporary replacement when Amaro is reassigned to Queens. He has brief SVU experience in other boroughs, including Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island. Carisi gets off to a rough start with his new colleagues, coming off as blunt and insensitive during his initial meeting with Sergeant Benson and Detective Rollins. In the fifth episode of season 16, it is revealed he has permanently joined the Manhattan SVU team and Scanavino is added to the opening credits. In the same episode, Carisi helps turn one suspect against the other suspect during the investigation of a pornstar's rape, earning him praise from Benson.

Mike Dodds

Sergeant Mike Dodds is introduced in the season 17 episode, "Maternal Instincts", as the son of Deputy Chief William Dodds (Peter Gallagher), who transfers to the 16th Precinct to serve as Lieutenant Benson's second-in-command. He is a war veteran, having enlisted after 9/11 and served in Special Forces. Immediately prior to his transfer, Dodds worked Anti-Crime, and before that, he worked out of the 71st Precinct.

Elliot Stabler

Elliot Stabler was portrayed by Christopher Meloni from 1999 to 2011.
Main article: Elliot Stabler

Elliot Stabler was a senior detective in Manhattan's 16th Precinct, also known as the Special Victims Unit, which investigates sex crimes. He is one of the original members of the squad. A former Marine and a dedicated detective, he has a 97 percent closure rate,[12] but his dedication can turn to obsession and cause him to take cases personally. His dedication to the job also makes him the target for several IAB investigations during the course of his 12-year career at SVU. At the start of the series, he is married with four children. He separates from his wife Kathy during Seasons 7 and 8, but they reconcile after she becomes pregnant with their fifth child. Elliot is Catholic, which sometimes complicates the cases he works on, but also helps him form a close friendship with ADA Novak. His partner is Olivia Benson, with whom he generally has a good working relationship, but it is not without tension and friction, especially in Seasons 7 and 8 when they are separated as partners for some time. Captain Cragen also makes both detectives speak with psychiatrist Rebecca Hendrix in order to decide whether they can continue working as partners. Dr. Hendrix tells Cragen that he should split them up only if he wants to lose his two best detectives.

John Munch

John Munch was portrayed by Richard Belzer from 1993 to 2014 (Homicide: Life on the Streets).
Main article: John Munch

John Munch was a detective and now a Sergeant in the Manhattan Special Victims Unit. A conspiracy theorist and dedicated detective, Munch is first partnered with Brian Cassidy (Dean Winters), whom he thinks of as a kind of younger brother, alternately poking fun at him and imparting (often questionable) advice on life and women. When Cassidy leaves the precinct in 2000,[13] Munch is briefly partnered with Monique Jeffries (Michelle Hurd),[14] and then with Odafin Tutuola (Ice-T).[15] He and the gruff, uncompromising Tutuola get off to a rough start, but gradually came to like and respect each other.

Since being promoted to Sergeant at the beginning of Season 9, Munch has taken more of a leadership role and does less investigating in the field, partially due to the fact that Tutuola was partnered with Detective Lake in Season 9. After Lake's departure in the Season 9 finale, Munch begins working with Tutuola again, while occasionally acting as squad commander when Cragen was unavailable. In Season 13, Munch is seen mostly in the precinct helping with interrogations and research, as Tutuola is partnered with Detective Rollins. He continues to act as squad commander when Cragen is absent. In Season 14, Munch is temporarily reassigned to the Cold Case Unit, after solving a decade old cold child abduction case in the episode, "Manhattan Vigil". He returns to SVU in the episode, "Secrets Exhumed", in which he brings back a 1980s rape-homicide cold case for the squad to look into. Munch filed his retirement papers after the events in the episode "American Tragedy", formally leaving in "Wonderland Story". He subsequently accepted a position at the District Attorney's office as an investigator.

The character was first created for the NBC police drama Homicide: Life on the Street, where he worked as a homicide detective with the Baltimore Police Department. The character was based on Jay Landsman, a central figure in David Simon's true crime book Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets, a documentary account of the homicide unit's operation over one year.[16] After the series cancellation in 1999, the character was transferred to Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, having appeared within the original Law & Order in cross-over episodes. Within the series, it is eventually said he left Baltimore after his wife cheated on him with a friend. Munch has been the only fictional character played by a single actor to appear on eight different television shows: Homicide: Life on the Street, Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Law & Order: Trial by Jury, The X-Files, Arrested Development, The Beat, and The Wire.

Donald Cragen

Main article: Donald Cragen

Donald Cragen is the Captain of the Special Victims Unit. Florek originally portrayed the character from 1990 to 1993 in the original Law & Order series. During his Law & Order tenure, Cragen was investigated by internal affairs for corruption. During the investigation to prove his innocence, he discovered that he was being framed by his former captain and mentor, whom he turns in and is cleared by IAB. He was an alcoholic for much of his early career, but goes sober after pulling his service revolver on a taxi driver in a drunken rage.[17] He has remained sober since, even after the death of his wife in a plane crash. Cragen was written out of Law & Order in 1993, as he is transferred to Anti-Corruption Task Force, occasionally making guest appearances on the show. The character was brought back full-time in 1999 to be the Captain of the Special Victims Unit. As SVU Commanding Officer, he is portrayed as a somewhat stern but understanding father figure to the detectives who work under him, often giving them a great deal of leniency because he trusts their ability to get results. Cragen departed at the end of "Amaro's One-Eighty" after his girlfriend Eileen got two tickets for a six-month cruise around the world and he decided to use his unused leave time to carry him through until June.

Brian Cassidy

Brian Cassidy was portrayed by Dean Winters from 1999 to 2000 and 2012 to 2014.
Main article: Brian Cassidy

Brian Cassidy was a detective in the SVU during the series' first season. The youngest and least experienced member of the precinct, he has a genuine desire to put rapists and child molesters in prison, but lacked the professional detachment necessary to deal with the often grisly sex crimes. He often has trouble concealing his anger and revulsion toward the cases he investigates and this created friction between him and his colleagues, made worse when they poke fun at his relative lack of sophistication. A genuinely talented and driven police detective, he makes a real effort to learn from the other members of the precinct, particularly Munch, whom he thinks of as a sort of older brother/mentor figure. He has a brief affair with Olivia Benson, and has trouble dealing with her after the relationship ends. Cassidy was written out of the show midway through the first season. Cragen sends him to interview a young girl who was repeatedly raped and brutalized, causing Cassidy to realize that he cannot emotionally handle the types of crimes that a SVU detective must deal with on a daily basis. Cragen then offers to assist Cassidy with a transfer to another department, narcotics.

After a twelve-year absence from the show, Cassidy returned in the Season 13 finale, "Rhodium Nights". He is working undercover as security personnel for Bart Ganzel, the owner of an escort service. When Amaro and Rollins go to speak to Ganzel, Cassidy confronts Amaro and punches him in the face. After Cassidy is arrested, he is in the interrogation room with Amaro when Benson walks in and sarcastically greets her old colleague, explaining to Amaro how Cassidy worked SVU in another "century." Cassidy agrees to help them as long as they don't blow his cover. After Cassidy helps SVU get insight on the war between Ganzel and an opposing escort service, he has to play both sides of the law as he refuses to sacrifice his three years of undercover work. In the Season 14 premiere, Bureau Chief ADA Paula Foster reveals to Detective Benson that Cassidy is working undercover for her. Benson, along with Cassidy's former SVU partner Sergeant Munch, meets with him on two different occasions to get information on the escort war. When Benson goes to Ganzel's loft to speak with Cassidy again, they walk outside to what appears to be an attempted theft of Ganzel's car. Benson gives chase to one person, while Cassidy and the car thief pull guns on each other. A patrol car pulls up, and two officers draw their weapons, as Cassidy identifies himself as police. As Benson returns to identify herself as police, the patrol officer shoots Cassidy twice. Benson calls for a bus and rides with him to the hospital, where he survives, as the bullets missed his main arteries. It is discovered that the officer who shot him was contracted by Ganzel to shoot Cassidy after Ganzel finds the bugs that the DA's office had installed in his loft. Later, Cassidy and Benson share a kiss in his hospital room after Benson tells him she isn't the same person he knew years ago. In the episode, "Undercover Blue", Cassidy is accused of rape by a prostitute while he was undercover almost four years prior. It is revealed that Cassidy was being set up by the woman and her boss to make money off a lawsuit against the NYPD and the charges are dropped. Also in this episode, Munch says that Cassidy paid the price for having a relationship with a prostitute while undercover with Ganzel, as he was demoted from detective to an officer who works nights at a Bronx courthouse. Benson and Cassidy also are forced to reveal their romantic relationship in this episode when Amaro and Munch go to Cassidy's apartment and find Benson there.

Monique Jeffries

Main article: Monique Jeffries

Monique Jeffries was a police detective with Manhattan's Special Victims Unit and was one of the initial detectives in the SVU squad. Earlier in the series, she is partnered with various detectives, including Brian Cassidy. Initially, she is only seen at headquarters, doing research and showing up in court for various cases to represent the department. After Cassidy's departure in the middle of the first season, she partners with Detective Munch and begins going out on investigations. Shortly after this, she is physically and emotionally shaken when a car explodes while she is pursuing a fleeing suspect. Survival of the incident leaves her feeling "restless", and she has a one night stand with a man she recognized as a suspect in a previous sexual assault case the unit had investigated. After she confesses this to a department psychiatrist, who is working for a commission investigating problems in various police units, she is taken off active duty and ordered to receive treatment. Captain Don Cragen, feeling she has become "reckless" and "a danger" to herself supports the decision. At the end of the Season 2 premiere episode, Detective Fin Tutuola shows up at the SVU precinct and Jeffries asks if she can help him, upon reading the folder Tutuola gives her, she realizes he is there to take her job. Finding desk duty intolerable, she cleans out her desk and leaves her gun and badge on the desk of Captain Cragen. In the second season, although she is shown in three episodes, it is revealed that she was reinstated and transferred to the Vice Unit.

Danielle Beck

Detective Danielle "Dani" Beck was Detective Olivia Benson's temporary replacement in season 8, while Benson was on an undercover assignment (Mariska Hargitay was on maternity leave). Dani had a husband, a cop named Mike Dooley, who was shot and killed in the line of duty. Off to a rocky start at first, she and Stabler eventually gained a mutual respect for one another. A turning point in their relationship occurred when they shared a passionate kiss after celebrating a case at a bar, although post-kiss nothing more than increased sexual chemistry was ever implied. Following a case involving child abuse in which a traumatized adopted girl, whom Beck had been caring for, attempted to burn down her apartment and kill them both, Beck said to Stabler she could not stand working in the Special Victims Unit anymore unless he asked her to stay. Stabler reluctantly said he could not make that decision for her, so Dani decided it would be best to return to her old post at the Warrants squad. Hargitay returned to her role as Benson in the following episode.

Chester Lake

Chester Lake was portrayed by Adam Beach from 2007 to 2008.

Detective Chester Lake transferred to the Manhattan SVU from the Brooklyn Special Victims Unit at the end of the eighth season and was partnered with Detective Fin Tutuola. He is of Native American ancestry, specifically Mohawk, and speaks proudly of his ancestors, noting that many of them helped to build the city's skyscrapers and subway tunnels. He also used to compete as an amateur mixed martial artist under the name "Naptime", but had to quit after tearing his ACL. Lake suffers from insomnia and often takes walks at night when he cannot sleep.

In the final episode of the ninth season, Lake begins attending meetings of individuals in Philadelphia who share information on "cold" murder cases. He later shoots and kills a fellow police officer, who was suspected of raping two illegal immigrant girls ten years ago, killing one. Lake disappears while his fellow detectives investigate. They are able to prove Lake killed the other cop in self defense after he was shot at himself by a second NYPD officer with a history of brutality. Lake is found, wounded, and taken to the hospital. The second officer, however, is released after the jury deadlocks. The officer is killed the same night and Lake is found standing over the body and makes no denial to his fellow SVU detectives. He is arrested and last seen in the series sitting handcuffed in a police car. It was confirmed on April 18, 2008 that Beach would not be returning to the series to reprise the role in the subsequent season.[18]

Nick Amaro

Nick Amaro was portrayed by Danny Pino from 2011 to 2015.
Main article: Nick Amaro

Nicholas "Nick" Amaro is a NYPD detective who has transferred to the Special Victims Unit from Warrants and Narcotics.[20] When Nick was little, Amaro's father beat his mother. Nick's father later fled to Miami, Florida; he attributes his firm belief in divorce to this. He is fluent in Spanish,[21] is married, with a young daughter named Zara, and has a living mother, Cesaria (Nancy Ticotin[22]).[23] His wife, Maria Grazie Amaro (Laura Benanti), is doing overseas reporting in Iraq. Since Maria has been deployed in Iraq, their relationship has been somewhat tense, although they always seem to work through their differences.

Initially, Amaro did not see eye to eye with his new partner, Detective Benson, mainly because she was adjusting to having him as a partner instead of Elliot Stabler. After their rocky start, Amaro and Benson begin to have a mutual respect for each other and work well together.[20][21] During his early days in SVU, Amaro has a tough time adjusting to the cases and tells Benson he has the urge to physically assault a suspect, but she tells him the better solution would be to ensure that the perpetrators never see the light of day.[10] In the episode "Hunting Ground", Amaro saves Detective Benson and a kidnapped victim by shooting and killing a man. He is seen visibly shaken as it happened to be his first kill shot.[24] In the episode "Valentine's Day", he sees his wife go into an apartment of a man he does not know.[25] In "Street Revenge", while trying to work a case of vigilante justice, he shadows his wife to see where she goes during the day; he later gets into a heated argument with his wife at the SVU squad room (after going to Philadelphia and assaulting a military friend of hers), and she tells him she is seeing a psychiatrist because she is trying to adapt back into her old life.[26]

In the Season 14 premiere, Amaro's wife decides to take a job in Washington, D.C., citing that they need a break from each other. Amaro is clearly rattled by this and goes as far as to threaten to shoot Detective Brian Cassidy if Cassidy did not tell him for whom he was working undercover. This, along with his erratic behavior, causes the SVU detectives to be very cautious around him with sensitive information regarding Captain Cragen's case.[27][28] In "Twenty-Five Acts", Amaro seeks temporary SVU commanding officer, Captain Harris (Adam Baldwin), to let Amaro work their rape case solo, telling Benson that she needed a partner she could trust, Benson working the case with Rollins.[29]

In the episode, "Undercover Blue", Detective Cassidy is put on trial for rape while he was undercover. Amaro is called to the stand by ADA Derek Strauss and he is asked questions about his undercover work. When Cassidy's lawyer questions him, he is forced to reveal that he had a romantic relationship with the sister of a drug lord he was investigating undercover. Munch then informs him that the NYPD brass is requesting he take a paternity test because the woman is claiming he has a son from the relationship. He goes to the woman's house to confront her, but is denied by her boyfriend. Later, while watching the boyfriend pick his alleged son up from school, he witnesses the man complete a drug deal using the boy. Amaro then meets the boy and tells the woman that her boyfriend is using their son to deal drugs. After Cassidy apologizes to Amaro for what his lawyer did, Cassidy helps Amaro bust the boyfriend for drug dealing. The episode concludes with Amaro knocking on the woman's door and her reluctantly letting him in.

Amaro begins to show great concern when Rollins begins gambling again, and they begin to get close. In the episode "Reasonable Doubt", he comes out of a shower in Rollins' apartment.

Declan G. Murphy

Declan G. Murphy has been portrayed by Donal Logue since 2014.

Lieutenant Declan G. Murphy is first introduced working as an undercover cop who Rollins comes across while she's on a gambling binge. Shortly after William Lewis escaped from prison, One Police Plaza appointed Murphy commanding officer of Manhattan SVU, deeming it inappropriate for Benson to lead the manhunt to recapture Lewis. Murphy's reign as commanding officer continued after Lewis' suicide at the request of One Police Plaza. Murphy was a strict and by-the-book CO, often checking behind the detectives' backs, ensuring they were apprehending suspects correctly and often using his undercover expertise to lead the direction of investigations. Murphy's strictness often caused him to bump heads with the detectives, mainly Amaro, who did not trust him. Morally, Murphy has shown to be flexible. When Benson was looking at perjury charges after Lewis' suicide, he lied under oath and persuaded the grand jury not to pursue them, stating that Benson did what she had to do to save the girl that Lewis had kidnapped; whether what she had said on the stand had merit or not. However, when Amaro is arrested for his assault on a photographer investigated for child pornography and building a torture chamber that he claimed he used regularly, Murphy tells Amaro that he knows Amaro doesn't value his advice, but to stand down and keep quiet, regardless of the circumstances. After the charges were dismissed, Murphy told Benson that he would do what he could, but he was not going to pull strings for Amaro, as he was unconvinced that Amaro's career was worth saving. At the end of "Spring Awakening," Murphy tells Benson that he has been chosen for an undercover assignment and recommended to One Police Plaza that command of the SVU be returned to her. Subsequently, in the episode "Undercover Mother", Murphy's undercover assignment is revealed after SVU takes down a sex trafficking ring.

In the seventeenth season episode "Community Policing", Murphy returns after finding out about Rollins' pregnancy while he was "4,000 miles away in Serbia trying to take down a sex trafficking ring." Rollins reveals to Murphy that he is in fact the father of her child. Upon hearing this, Murphy lets her know that he is now here to stay, albeit temporarily; however, he gives Rollins a secret cell number, and tells her that should she need him, he would be on a plane within an hour.[30]

Assistant District Attorneys

Abbie Carmichael

Main article: Abbie Carmichael

In Season 1, ADA Abbie Carmichael, from Law & Order, prosecuted SVU cases for 6 episodes.

Alexandra Cabot

Main article: Alexandra Cabot

ADA Alexandra Cabot first appears in the Season 2 premiere episode "Wrong Is Right", when she is assigned by the DA and Police Commissioner to work with SVU as their permanent ADA. She serves as SVU's ADA until the fourth episode of Season 5, in which she survives an assassination attempt by a drug cartel's hitman and subsequently enters the Witness Protection Program. In the Season 6 episode "Ghost," she returned to testify against her assassin, but quickly disappears back into Witness Protection after the trial.

She appeared in the 2006 short-lived Law & Order spinoff Conviction as Bureau Chief of the homicide unit. In Season 10, she makes a surprise return to SVU as the temporary ADA, replacing ADA Greylek, for six episodes, starting with the episode "Lead." Although Cabot was absent for the first four episodes of Season 11, she becomes their permanent ADA in the fifth episode ("Hardwired") after EADA Sonya Paxton entered court-ordered alcohol rehab. She left SVU in the Season 11 episode "Witness" to work for the International Criminal Court to seek justice for rape victims in the Congo. She later returned in the Season 13 premiere "Scorched Earth", in which Cabot is the lead prosecutor in a rape case against a man who is the favorite to become Italy's next prime minister. She is the prosecutor in seven episodes, sharing the ADA duties with Casey Novak and Bureau Chief Mike Cutter. Cabot's last episode of Season 13 was "Learning Curve" in which she is aiding in the investigation of a school molestation scandal.

Elizabeth Donnelly

Elizabeth Donnelly was portrayed by Judith Light from 2002 to 2010.
Main article: Elizabeth Donnelly

Elizabeth Donnelly was SVU's Bureau Chief Assistant District Attorney from Season 3 to 6. In the District Attorney's office, she serves as the supervisor for ADA Cabot and her successor Casey Novak. Donnelly is elevated to judge in Season 7. In the Season 10 episode "Persona", Donnelly takes a leave of absence from her role as a judge and resumes her previous role as an Executive ADA to prosecute a cold case she was involved with in 1974, when a battered woman (Brenda Blethyn) murdered her husband. She admits to Benson that she was somewhat responsible for the woman absconding from custody and therefore took on the case due to "unfinished business." Her role in the escape leads to mishaps in the justice system being termed "doing a Donnelly" for many years to follow. This episode calls attention to the difficulty Donnelly experiences as a woman working in the justice system. But the revelation that the fugitive had been pregnant at the time of her crime leads Donnelly to what, for her, is an act of leniency. She leaves the office, yet again, and returns to the role of a judge.

From Season 7 through 12, the SVU ADAs work without a Bureau Chief supervising their work, and are watched more closely by the District Attorney. In Season 13, Executive ADA Michael Cutter is transferred from homicide to take over Donnelly's former role as supervisor.

Casey Novak

Casey Novak was portrayed by Diane Neal from 2003 to 2008 and 2011 to 2012.
Main article: Casey Novak

Casey Novak was SVU's Assistant District Attorney from Seasons 5 to 9, replacing ADA Alexandra Cabot. Although she quickly loses her innocence when dealing with sex crimes, she still shows uneasiness when dealing with the gray areas of human involvement, preferring the letter of the law to the messiness of each individual reality. Nonetheless, Novak has a 71 percent success rate in the cases she prosecutes, whereas the average for prosecutors is 44 percent. After initial hesitation, she becomes particularly close to Stabler as they bond over being Catholic and a love for sports. It is revealed that in her final year of law school, Novak was engaged to a man, Charlie, who suffered from schizophrenia. She ended the relationship when his symptoms became so severe she felt she could no longer be intimate with him. In 2002, Charlie attacked her in her home during a psychotic episode. She convinced the police not to press charges, but ended the relationship. He eventually became homeless, and was found dead as a "John Doe" in the spring of 2007. She developed a deep compassion for the mentally ill afterward, but still feels guilty for not being able to help him, as shown in Season 9's "Blinded." She states that she is a big supporter of the U.S military. She says that her father was an M-60 Door Gunner on a Huey during the Vietnam War. His helicopter crashed three times and he received a Purple Heart. In Season 9, her final year as the SVU ADA, she grew increasingly more reckless and unsure in her prosecution. It is implied that friend and former boss Liz Donnelly aided in her censure, leading to her replacement by ADA Kim Greylek in Season 10.

It is revealed that Novak was censured for three years and subsequently re-hired by the DA's office. This is explained in the Season 12 episode "Reparations", where she returns to SVU as their temporary ADA to prosecute a rape case. She is opposed by Law & Order: LA Deputy District Attorney Jonah Dekker who is representing the defendant. Casey not only finds herself at odds with Dekker, but also Judge Petrovsky, to whom she had previously lied in the Season 9 finale ("Cold"), which ultimately led to her censure.

ADA Novak returned as a recurring character, along with ADA Cabot, in Season 13. She was last seen as the lead prosecutor in "Valentine's Day", in which she goes up against Defense Attorney Marvin Exley, who is defending a woman who seems to have fabricated her own abduction.

Kim Greylek

Main article: Kim Greylek

Kim Greylek was the SVU's Assistant District Attorney who replaced Casey Novak at the beginning of Season 10. Greylek previously worked in the U.S. Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women in Washington, D.C. where she had the nickname of "The Crusader." A dogged prosecutor, she pushed the detectives to make cases for the sake of politics in favor of pursuing actual offenders. She can be unrelenting, threatening to charge a defendant with a hate crime for raping two women in the Season 10 premiere, and having a teenage boy charged with assaulting a police officer so he can be tested for HIV. In the episode "Babes", Greylek also angers a woman believed to be involved with a young girl's suicide, but she was found not guilty. After gloating about her innocence, the woman attacks Greylek for correcting her about being "innocent" and to wash the blood off her hands before holding her daughter's baby. When the officers pull the woman off her, Greylek tells Stabler to charge her with assault.

But Greylek also has a softer side, as she warns Stabler to get a good defense attorney after his daughter Kathleen (who was dealing with bipolar disorder issues) is charged with breaking & entering and theft, because the DA's office will prosecute her. Greylek also rushes to get justice for three women who were drugged and raped by a man obsessed with pornography in the episode "Smut". Greylek seeks justice when a man is brutally beaten outside a strip club with the man's ex-wife and 13-year-old transgender daughter Hailey as the prime suspect. Before the case gets to trial, Benson and Stabler discover that it was Haley's guidance counselor who committed the crime. During the trial, it is discovered that the guidance counselor is also a transgender woman and that is why she tried to help Haley.

After appearing in only 14 episodes, Greylek was written out of the series in the episode "Lead"; in the middle of a trial where Pediatrician Gilbert Keppler (Lawrence Arancio) is found guilty of sexually assaulting four of his male patients. She is last seen doing a press conference with Cragen, Benson, and Stabler on the steps of the courthouse while the doctor's attorney hands the SVU squad a lawsuit for failure to take action against Keppler immediately. Later in the episode, Benson and Stabler discover the doctor murdered in his home. The detectives hold CSU out of the house until Cragen and Greylek arrive. Suddenly, they see ADA Cabot walk up to the scene with Cragen. Cabot tells the detectives that the Justice Department called Greylek back to Washington and DA McCoy let her leave immediately.

Sonya Paxton

Sonya Paxton was portrayed by Christine Lahti from 2009 to 2011.
Main article: Sonya Paxton

Sonya Paxton was SVUs Executive ADA who temporarily replaced Alexandra Cabot for four episodes in Season 11, starting with the season premiere, "Unstable". Working in the Appeals bureau, she was the first to get a Capital Conviction in New York when the then newly elected Governor Pataki brought back the death penalty in 1995. Paxton was sent to SVU by DA Jack McCoy to "clean house" in the "he-said, she-said unit" due to too many convictions being overturned. However, things started out rocky as she butts heads with the SVU team, particularly Detective Stabler. In the second episode "Sugar", she and Stabler get into a heated argument after Paxton calls the suspect's lawyer after he declines his right to counsel twice. In the fourth episode "Hammered", Paxton is prosecuting a case where a man drank heavily and murders the woman he met at the bar. The defense blames alcoholism for the murder during the trial. Intending to use a computer-generated video mockup of the crime, Paxton accidentally plays a version in which the defendant's face is superimposed onto the attacker. Paxton is embarrassed and meets Benson and Stabler at a bar where she is seen drinking. The following morning, she arrives 45 minutes late to the mistrial hearing, appearing distraught and blaming a "fender bender". Judge Moredock asked if she needed medical help, but the defendant pointed out that she was drunk. Judge Moredock ordered Benson to come with a breathalyzer, which revealed her blood alcohol level was .082, resulting in a mistrial. Moredock ordered Paxton to seek treatment, which prompted her departure. At the end of the episode, she returns to the SVU precinct and apologizes to the team, stating that she intends on making amends to each and every one of them.

She later appears in the Season 11 episode "Turmoil", meeting ADA Cabot outside the courtroom after Cabot discovers she is being investigated by the state bar. Paxton tells her to watch out for Benson and Stabler, because they are only loyal to each other.

In Season 12, Paxton makes a surprise return to SVU and served as the Executive ADA in the ninth episode ("Gray") to prove to the DA that she hadn't lost her 'winning ways'. Paxton and Stabler go at it again, with Stabler telling her to "go have a drink." In the seventeenth episode ("Pursuit"), she returns again to help out an old friend, Alicia Harding, who starts receiving personal threats from her stalker. Paxton tells the SVU squad that she has been working to find Harding's missing sister for decades as it was her case. She releases confidential case information to Harding, which puts Harding in danger. Benson and Tutuola go looking for Paxton at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting to reprimand her for giving out the information. Benson makes a shocking discovery when entering the women's restroom as Paxton is bleeding out on the floor. As Benson tries to help her, Paxton says "It's okay, I got him," and she dies in Benson's arms. M.E. Warner discovers a hair in Paxton's throat, which she got by biting her attacker- which ultimately helped solve the case.

Jo Marlowe

Jo Marlowe was portrayed by Sharon Stone in 2010.

ADA Jo Marlowe is drafted by DA Jack McCoy in Season 11 after ADA Alexandra Cabot takes a leave of absence to help rape victims in the Congo. She is a former police lieutenant and Detective Stabler's partner approximately four years before he paired with Detective Benson.[31] She first appears in the 20th episode of the season, "Torch", in which McCoy directs her to handle a case in which two young girls were killed in a fire. Stabler and Benson show up at the crime scene and Stabler is shocked to see his old partner and more surprised to know she now works for the DA's office. Benson believes Marlowe only took the job as SVU's ADA so that she could work with Stabler again.

In the following episode, "Ace", Marlowe and Captain Cragen clash over the way to handle a case in which a baby-trafficking ring is discovered and a young woman and her baby are in danger. Marlowe orders Benson and Stabler to catch the ring's leader in the act, while Cragen wants ESU to take the perp at his warehouse. Cragen remarks to Marlowe, "You're the boss in court counselor, not here." Marlowe leaves the precinct only to have Cragen follow her outside, where he reminds her of "why she really retired" back in 1995 when she was a lieutenant she sent two undercover detectives, who later died in an attempt to arrest a drive-by murderer. Marlowe responds it was a "Command decision." Cragen's detectives do arrest the ringleader, while Cragen saves the young woman in the warehouse. Marlowe is able to convict the leader by using his delivery doctor's testimony, which he delivered in the judge's chambers for protection.

In the Season 11 finale, "Shattered", Marlowe is taken hostage, along with Detective Benson and Dr. Warner, in the morgue by a distraught mother of a dead boy. The mother shoots Dr. Warner and Benson and Marlowe must take action to save her life. In talking the mother down, Marlowe says she knows what it is like to be in pain as she reveals that she was diagnosed with an "aggressive" type of cancer and had a bilateral radical mastectomy a year before taking the job at SVU. Marlowe makes the mother drop the gun by picking up the dead boy and saying that he needs his mother and handing him to her. Marlowe is last seen looking increasingly upset. ADA Gillian Hardwicke replaces Marlowe as SVU's permanent ADA at the beginning of Season 12.

Entertainment Weekly reviewed Stone's performance as a "great presence," and having "had to revive her best ... tone to sell hokey lines" in a series it described as "mawkish and overwrought."[32]

Sherri West

Sherri West is brought in as a temporary ADA to start Season 12. West first appears in the second episode, where she is the prosecutor on a case where a pedophile hiding in plain sight is believed to have started going after young girls again. When the suspect is brutally beaten in the SVU holding cell by an officer, West assures the judge that violence against the defendant won't occur again. West next appeared in the third episode, "Behave", in which Detective Benson goes to the ends of the Earth for a rape victim named Vicki Sayers (Jennifer Love Hewitt) to ensure that Bill Harris (James Le Gros), her rapist, is put away.

West returned in the 23rd episode, "Delinquent". When SVU detectives find Hunter Mazelon (Sterling Beaumon) naked and asleep in a young woman's bed, West tells them that she can’t charge Hunter with a sex crime but he can be charged with burglary 1 and criminal trespass 2, among other charges. When Hunter says during his arraignment that Detective Stabler molested him after handcuffing him, West's case is in shambles since there was also no actual victim. West manages to get Mazelon to allocute, which he did falsely, but Stabler wished for West to call for a recess. Detectives Tutuola and Stabler commented about how they have been burning through ADAs and maybe West cut the deal to cover Stabler so that they would like her.

In the Season 12 finale "Smoked", a rape victim was murdered days before her trial was set to start. West is called again and pushes Detectives Benson and Stabler to find the victim's murderer. Benson and Stabler, with West's help, discover the murder was orchestrated by the rapist, a friend, and a greedy ATF Agent. West did not manage to convict anyone because they were brutally killed by the victim's daughter in the SVU squad room, before Detective Stabler was forced to shoot her.

In the fourth episode of Season 13, "Double Strands", Sherri West appears back in the SVU precinct, except as a defense attorney because they "offered her a better deal."

Gillian Hardwicke

Gillian "Gill" Hardwicke was SVU's primary ADA in Season 12. She was a Brooklyn ADA who transfers to Manhattan SVU due to her great admiration for detectives Benson and Stabler. She replaced Mikka Von (Paula Patton), who was fired after only one case with the SVU team. Hardwicke has a 92% conviction rate as she stated in her premiere episode, "Branded". She often gets into conflict over cases with Detectives Benson and Stabler; with Benson over a case where a woman was raped as a teenager and she began seeking revenge on her attackers, branding them with hot clothes hangers. She and Benson also clash when Vivian Arliss (Maria Bello)—who gave custody of her son Calvin (Charlie Tahan) to Olivia—is a suspect in a string of burglaries. Hardwicke and Stabler get into conflict over a case where presumably, a boy named Nicky Roberts, shot and killed his abusive stepfather; the case eventually dropped because both Nicky and his mother admit to killing him, evidence not proving one or the other. In "Penetration", Hardwicke convicts a man who raped FBI Agent Dana Lewis while she was undercover, at the request of Brian Ackerman (J. C. MacKenzie), who was angry at Lewis for killing his son Kyle in the Season 7 episode "Raw".

In her final episode, "Bombshell", Hardwicke attempts to convict twin-siblings Cassandra (Rose McGowan) and Doug (Ryan Hurst)—who are actually in a sexual relationship—for their involvement in a man's brutal stabbing along with fraud crimes in New York and Miami. They are released on bail due to lack of evidence, which leads to Doug's murder by the man in love with Cassandra. Hardwicke is mentioned in the episode "Reparations" as Detective Tutuola says she is at a convention in Miami, before ADA Casey Novak returns as their temporary prosecutor. Sherri West then assumed the temporary ADA role for the final two episodes in Season 12. It is unknown if Hardwicke ever returned to New York.

Melissa Sagemiller had previously been on SVU in Season 1 episode "Russian Love Poem", in which Sagemiller played a victim. Sagemiller said about her character's personality: "She's tough... she has a heart, she just gets what she wants." Sagemiller also added, "She sticks to the letter of the law, sometimes to a fault, but in the end I think she always does the right thing."[33]

Michael Cutter

Main article: Michael Cutter

Executive ADA Michael Cutter from the final 3 seasons of Law & Order has been promoted to Bureau Chief ADA of the Special Victims unit, where he is supervising ADAs Alexandra Cabot and Casey Novak. Both Cabot and Novak were previously supervised by Bureau Chief ADA Elizabeth Donnelly, before she was elevated to judgeship in Season 7. The Season 13 premiere, "Scorched Earth", was Cutter's first appearance on SVU, in which he aided ADA Cabot in her prosecution of an Italian diplomat.

In "True Believers", Cutter takes the lead in a case where a college music student (Sofia Vassilieva) is raped at gunpoint by a drug dealer. Powerful defense attorney Bayard Ellis (Andre Braugher) played the "race card" defense and Cutter fails to get a guilty verdict on the case due to the fact that Detectives Tutuola & Rollins had a faulty identification by the victim by frisking three identical suspects, Detectives Benson & Amaro are not on the same page when Amaro sees the suspect sling a gun under his sofa while they attempt to arrest him in his home, and the victim's credibility being questioned because she had a one-night stand with her music instructor.

In the episode "Lost Traveller", ADA Cabot is forced to call on Cutter after defense attorney Marvin Exley demands her to "call her boss" to work out a deal. In "Father's Shadow," Cutter is the lead prosecutor when a reality show producer named Fred Sandow (Michael McKean) is accused of raping young first-time actresses. Cutter's office did not drop the charges, even when the producer's son took his girlfriend and her daughter hostage and demanded the charges dropped.

David Haden

David Haden was portrayed by Harry Connick Jr. from 2011 to 2012.

Executive Assistant District Attorney David Haden joins the show in the Season 13, "Official Story," with a four-episode arc. Referred to as the executive assistant to the District Attorney, or the DA's "number two", Haden is a dedicated, straight-shooting prosecutor who is assigned a case with Detective Benson and the SVU squad when a powerful CEO of a private military contractor is confronted by Occupy Wall Street protesters and later found drugged and sexually assaulted in a park. There is more to the case than meets the eye and a much larger crime and conspiracy in Iraq is unveiled, with a rape occurring overseas and the rape kit being kept hidden. Haden and the SVU detectives are threatened by the CEO (portrayed by John Doman), but Haden dismisses the threat, telling Detective Benson, "This is what I live for." Although Benson is at first wary of Haden, they are both surprised to find they work well together. As the case develops, so does their relationship, as they share dinner and a kiss at the end of the episode.

In the following episode, "Father's Shadow," Haden offers to take Olivia to dinner but she respectfully declines, citing she was still on duty and joking there would be a possible conflict of interest. Later, Haden shows up at the scene of a hostage situation, in which Benson is trying to talk the teenage boy down. After Benson finally convinces the boy to give her the gun, Haden comforts her and offers to take her home. In "Hunting Ground," Haden and Benson's relationship furthers as they are shown on a date and later sleeping together.

In "Justice Denied", Haden becomes involved in an SVU case in which it appears that Benson had coerced a confession out of a man eight years earlier and the real rapist is attacking women again. After Defense Attorney Bayard Ellis questions their relationship and threatens to expose them, Haden and Benson have to decide how they are going to handle the case without having their judgement clouded. At the end of the episode after the real rapist had been caught and the wrongfully imprisoned man was released, Captain Cragen informs Benson that the District Attorney has decided to form a Conviction Integrity Unit to investigate past cases and ensure no one is wrongfully imprisoned. Cragen says that the DA's office will be starting with Sex Crimes and that Haden has been appointed as the Bureau Chief of the unit. Benson and Haden meet for drinks and decide that they have to end their relationship and pretend like it never happened.

In the 13th season finale episode, "Rhodium Nights", Defense Attorney Marvin Exley (Ron Rifkin) tells Benson that Bureau Chief Haden may not be the person he's claiming to be, hinting that it's possible Haden is corrupt or dirty. It is revealed in the Season 14 premiere that Haden's name came up on the wire tap in the investigation of an escort service war. At the end of the episode, after several members of the DA's office were arrested including Bureau Chief Paula Foster, Amaro tells Benson that Haden resigned from the office with Benson responding that he had nothing to do with it.

Rafael Barba

Rafael Barba has been portrayed by Raúl Esparza since 2012.
Main article: Rafael Barba

Assistant District Attorney Rafael Barba is brought in at the behest of temporary SVU captain, Steven Harris (Adam Baldwin), when Barba requests a transfer from Brooklyn to Manhattan after he prosecutes two johns for raping a prostitute. Barba is a by-the-book headstrong prosecutor, who puts pressure on not only the detectives, but also the victims and witnesses. In his first case, he prosecutes a rape similar to a best selling erotic novel Twenty-Five Acts by Jocelyn Paley (Anna Chlumsky), who is the rape victim. Barba tells the detectives to uncover anything and everything about Paley and her attacker. After rushing to put Paley on the stand to testify, Barba and the detectives discover that Paley did not write the book, which forces Barba to get creative with the trial. When Barba exposes the defendant's viciousness by taunting him with a belt, the jury finds the defendant guilty.

ADA Barba goes head to head with the Suffolk County District Attorney, Pam James (Jane Kaczmarek), in the episode "Beautiful Frame", after a Manhattan rape victim is charged with murder of her ex-boyfriend in Suffolk County. Detective Benson questions the charges against the woman and gathers enough evidence for Barba to put another man on trial for the same murder, as Barba and James race to get a conviction before the other. Barba and the SVU detectives uncover a scandal within the Suffolk County DA's office, as one of James' investigators set the young woman up for the murder. Barba offers to spare James' office of more embarrassment as long as the investigator is convicted for the murder in Suffolk County.

In the episode, "Funny Valentine", Barba and the detectives have a tough time convincing pop star Mischa Green to testify against her abusive boyfriend, hip-hop artist Caleb Bryant. After a shooting that kills her manager with Bryant as a suspect, Barba and Detective Benson convince Green to testify in the grand jury. But when she finally takes the stand, she tells Barba that her boyfriend was not at the scene and instead says Barba and Benson put those words in her mouth. After not being able to arrest Bryant, the couple flees on a vacation, where Green is ultimately found dead.

Towards the end of the fourteenth season, Barba becomes close with the squad, and they rely on his legal advice on many of their assigned cases. In the episode "Undercover Blue", Benson goes to Barba in an attempt to provide evidence that could potentially clear Cassidy's name. In the season finale "Her Negotiation", Rollins calls Barba in on a weekend for a class-B case, which turns into something more serious, which Barba takes to trial, but ultimately doesn't get his conviction.

Medical experts

George Huang

George Huang was portrayed by BD Wong from 2001 to 2015.

Dr. Huang is an FBI forensic psychiatrist and criminal profiler, specializing in studying sexual predators and their victims. He becomes SVU's resident psychiatrist in Season 3 after he was originally on loan to the squad towards the end of Season 2. Though he is liked and respected by the SVU detectives and they generally defer to his professional judgment, his diagnoses sometimes hinder prosecutions, particularly where he finds mental illness, making defendants either not fully responsible for their crimes, or not fit to stand trial. This makes him a constant pain for the ADAs who are trying to prosecute the offenders. He frequently observes interrogations of suspects, advising detectives on how to best interact to obtain a confession. Very little is known about Huang's personal life, other than that he is gay, which he noted in Season 11's "Hardwired", has a sister (noted in "Inheritance"), and that he speaks Cantonese and Mandarin.

Dr. Huang was last seen in a main role during the Season 12 episode "Bombshell" in which he helps Benson and Stabler get information out of a homeless man. The reason for his departure is not revealed until the Season 13 episode "Father Dearest" in which Dr. Huang returns to the SVU squad temporarily to aid in an investigation and tells them about his new assignment in Oklahoma City. Huang returns to New York in the Season 14 episode, "Born Psychopath", and helps the SVU detectives with a case involving a young boy who has become increasingly violent towards those close to him. He diagnoses the boy with Antisocial personality disorder and makes arrangements to get him into a treatment facility.

After not appearing in Season 16, the first season he did not appear in since joining the show in Season 2, Huang returns in the Season 17 episode, "Depravity Standard." He tells Benson that he took early retirement from the FBI in order to return to New York, where he is now doing private consulting.

Melinda Warner

Melinda Warner was portrayed by Tamara Tunie from 2000 to 2015
Main article: Melinda Warner

Dr. Warner is a NYC medical examiner who is one of SVU's biggest allies. Though originally a recurring character, she became a regular cast member in Season 7 through Season 12, reverting to a recurring character in Season 13. In the Season 7 episode "Blast," she becomes directly involved in the efforts to rescue an eight-year-old kidnapping victim who has just been diagnosed with leukemia. Warner is held hostage with Detective Stabler at a bank where the hostage taker's father is the manager. When the taker demands Detective Stabler to come out of the office, he gives Warner his second gun, which she later uses to shoot the taker to prevent him from committing suicide by cop. In the Season 11 finale "Shattered," she is held hostage in her own morgue with Detective Benson and ADA Marlowe and is shot by the woman holding them hostage. She talks Benson through life-saving techniques before the woman lets her go to get real medical attention. She is well liked by the SVU squad, though briefly argues with Stabler when he accuses her of botching a DNA test on Benson, expected to absolve her of a homicide, before she discovered the DNA was intentionally doctored to make Benson look guilty. She served as a doctor in the U.S. Air Force during the Gulf War and is married with a daughter.

Emil Skoda

Emil Skoda was portrayed by J.K. Simmons from 1997 to 2010 (Law & Order).

Dr. Skoda is a psychiatrist who works with the New York Police Department. In addition to his own private practice, he often testifies for the prosecution as an expert witness on whether a defendant is legally sane to stand trial. He also profiles suspects and offers advice to the district attorneys regarding witnesses' and suspects' mental state.

Elizabeth Rodgers

Main article: Elizabeth Rodgers

Dr. Elizabeth Rodgers was a recurring character in the Law & Order franchise. She was the medical examiner on SVU throughout the first season and has since been replaced by Dr. Melinda Warner. She also had a recurring role on Law & Order and Law & Order: Criminal Intent and appeared in one episode of Law & Order: Trial by Jury and Exiled: A Law & Order Movie.

Rebecca Hendrix

Rebecca Hendrix was portrayed by Mary Stuart Masterson from 2004 to 2006.

Dr. Rebecca Hendrix is a former police officer who was at the police academy with Detective Benson.[34] She left the force to become a psychiatrist. She initially appears for three episodes in the series' sixth season, to replace series regular B.D. Wong while he was performing in Broadway's Pacific Overtures.[35] Within the series, it is said that Wong's character George Huang is on special assignment with the FBI back in Washington. Neal Baer stated that the character also gave him an opportunity to introduce a conflict between Benson and Stabler and said "Stabler hasn't always felt warmly toward psychiatry, but he does warm up to this character - who has been both a cop and a shrink."[36]

Masterson reprises the role in the seventh season episode, "Ripped", where she helps Detective Stabler come to terms with unresolved issues in what Baer called "an emotionally devastating scene".[37] She makes a final appearance in the eighth season, episode "Philadelphia".

Recurring characters

NYPD Personnel

Characters Cast Years Seasons #Eps Notes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
Detective/Officer Brian Cassidy Dean Winters 1999–2000,
2012–14 		27 Special Victims Unit (Season 1)
District Attorney's Office (Seasons 13-14)
Internal Affairs Bureau (Season 15)
Detective Ken Briscoe Chris Orbach 1999–2000 11 Special Victims Unit
Detective Lennie Briscoe Jerry Orbach 1999–2000 3 Crossing over from Law & Order
Detective Ed Green Jesse L. Martin 1999–2000 2 Crossing over from Law & Order
Commissioner Lyle Morris John Driver 2000 2
Lieutenant Ruben Morales Joel de la Fuente 2002–11 52 Technical Assistance Response Unit
Sergeant/Lieutenant/
Captain Ed Tucker 		Robert John Burke 2002–04,
2007–09,
2011,
2013–present		 21 Internal Affairs Bureau
Officer Robbins William H. Burns 2002,
2004–06 		6
Officer Ramirez Donnetta Lavinia Grays 2003–07 7
Chief of Detectives Muldrew John Schuck 2004–05,
2007–10 		8
Detective Mike Sandoval Nicholas Gonzalez 2004–05 2 Narcotics Unit
Detective Danielle Beck Connie Nielsen 2006 6 Special Victims Unit
Detective Chester Lake Adam Beach 2007–08 2 Regular character from 2007–08 (Season 9);
Brooklyn Special Victims Unit (Season 8)
Detective Joe Dumas Scott William Winters 2011, 2013,
2015–present 		4 Brooklyn Narcotics Unit
Captain Steven Harris Adam Baldwin 2012 3 Special Victims Unit
Sergeant Cole Draper Michael Potts 2012,
2014–15 		5 Internal Affairs Bureau
Lieutenant Alexandra Eames Kathryn Erbe 2012–13 2 Crossing over from Law & Order: Criminal Intent;
Joint Terrorism Task Force
Deputy Commissioner Hank Abraham Josh Pais 2013–present 6 Public Affairs
Lieutenant Declan Murphy Donal Logue 2014–present 8 Special Victims Unit
Detective Dominick Carisi, Jr. Peter Scanavino 2014 3 Special Victims Unit;
Regular character since 2014
(Season 16, Ep. 5- present)
Deputy Chief William Dodds Peter Gallagher 2014–present 6 Supervisor of all Special Victims Units in NYPD
Sergeant Mike Dodds Andy Karl 2015–present 8 Special Victims Unit

Crime Scene Unit Technicians

Full title: New York City Police Department Crime Scene Unit Forensic Technician Officers

Characters Cast Years Seasons #Eps Notes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
Georgie Welly Yang 1999–2003 13
Harry Martin Lou Carbonneau 2000–02 12
Burt Trevor Daniel Sunjata 2002–04 15
David Layton Jordan Gelber 2002–03 8
Captain Judith Siper Caren Browning 2003–06,
2008–11 		41
Ryan O'Halloran Mike Doyle 2003–09 52
Millie Vizcarrondo Paula Garcés 2005 4
Dale Stuckey Noel Fisher 2009 4
Keegan Simmons Jabari Gray 2009–10 6
Adrienne Sung James Chen 2011 7
Colin Bennett Max Baker 2012-2015 3

Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agents

Characters Cast Years Seasons #Eps Notes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
Special Agent George Huang, M.D B.D. Wong 2001–02,
2012–15 		24 Regular character from 2003–11 (seasons 4–12)
Special Agent Dana Lewis Marcia Gay Harden 2005–06,
2010, 2013 		4
Special Agent Dean Porter Vincent Spano 2006–07,
2009 		5
Special Agent Tom Nickerson Frankie Faison 2007–08 2

Assistant United States Attorneys

Characters Cast Years Seasons #Eps Notes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
AUSA Claudia Williams Pam Grier 2002–03 2
AUSA Raul Menedez Robert Montano 2005 1
AUSA Marion Springer Jayne Atkinson 2007 1
AUSA Camilla Velez Valerie Cruz 2010 2
AUSA Christine Danielson Gloria Reuben 2010–11 2 Previously Bureau Chief ADA
AUSA Bree Price Caris Vujcec 2012 1
AUSA Connie Rubirosa Alana de la Garza 2014 1 Crossing over from Law & Order, Previously ADA

Manhattan District Attorneys

Characters Cast Years Seasons #Eps Notes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
DA Adam Schiff Steven Hill 2000 1 Crossing over from Law & Order
DA Nora Lewin Dianne Wiest 2001–02 2 Crossing over from Law & Order
DA Arthur Branch Fred Dalton Thompson 2003–06 11 Crossing over from Law & Order
DA Jack McCoy Sam Waterston 2007, 2010 2 Crossing over from Law & Order; Previously Executive ADA

Chief Assistant District Attorneys

Characters Cast Years Seasons #Eps Notes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
CADA Charlie Phillips Jeffrey DeMunn 2000–01 2

Bureau Chief Assistant District Attorneys

Characters Cast Years Seasons #Eps Notes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
BC-ADA Elizabeth Donnelly Judith Light 2002–04 12 Special Victims Bureau; Later Judge
BC-ADA Tracey Kibre Bebe Neuwirth 2005 1 Homicide Bureau; Crossing over from Law & Order: Trial By Jury
BC-ADA Christine Danielson Gloria Reuben 2007 1 Homicide Bureau; Later Assistant US Attorney
BC-ADA Michael Cutter Linus Roache 2011–12 4 Special Victims Bureau; Crossing over from Law & Order
BC-ADA Paula Foster Paget Brewster 2012 2 Public Integrity Bureau[38]

Executive Assistant District Attorneys

Characters Cast Years Seasons #Eps Notes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
EADA Jack McCoy Sam Waterston 2000 1 Crossing over from Law & Order; Later District Attorney
EADA Stan Villani Ron Leibman 2001 4
EADA Lydia Ramos Priscilla Lopez 2008 1
EADA Elizabeth Donnelly Judith Light 2008 1 Previously Bureau Chief ADA; Later Judge
EADA Sonya Paxton Christine Lahti 2009–11 7
EADA Garrett Blaine Teddy Sears 2010 1
EADA David Haden Harry Connick, Jr. 2012 4

Assistant District Attorneys

Characters Cast Years Seasons #Eps Notes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
ADA Abbie Carmichael Angie Harmon 1999–2000 6 Crossing over from Law & Order
ADA Erica Alden Reiko Aylesworth 2000 3
ADA Kathleen Eastman Jenna Stern 2000 2
ADA Alexandra Cabot Stephanie March 2000, 2005,
2009
2011–12 		15 Regular character from 2000–03, 2009–10 (seasons 2–5, 11)
ADA Fritz Albert Jones 2007, 2009 2
ADA Kristen Torres Lizette Carrion 2008–09 2
ADA Kendra Gill Gretchen Egolf 2009–10 2 Later Defense Attorney
ADA Jo Marlowe Sharon Stone 2010 4
ADA Sherri West Francie Swift 2010–11 4 Later Defense Attorney
ADA Mikka Von Paula Patton 2010 1
ADA Gillian Hardwicke Melissa Sagemiller 2010–11 10
ADA Casey Novak Diane Neal 2011–12 5 Regular character from 2003–08 (seasons 5–9)
ADA Rose Calliay Tabitha Holbert 2011–12,
2014–15 		7
ADA Rafael Barba Raúl Esparza 2012–13 11 Regular character since 2013 (season 15–present)
ADA Pippa Cox Jessica Phillips 2013–present 6
ADA Derek Strauss Greg Germann 2013–14 3
ADA Kenneth O'Dwyer Robert Sean Leonard 2015–present 3

Defense Attorneys

Characters Cast Years Seasons #Eps Notes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
Don Newvine Frank Deal 1999–2001 5
James Woodrow Craig Wroe 2000–02,
2004–05,
2007 		9
Ms. Regal Liz Larsen 2000–02 3
Roger Kressler Ned Eisenberg 2001–06,
2008–11,
2013 		19
Carolyn Maddox CCH Pounder 2001,
2004–05,
2008, 2010 		5
Cleo Conrad Jill Marie Lawrence 2002–08 17
Trevor Langan Peter Hermann 2002–10,
2014–15 		30
Gina Bernado Illeana Douglas 2002–03 3
Morty Berger Michael Lerner 2003–06 2
Barry Moredock John Cullum 2003–05,
2007 		6 Later Judge
Donna Emmett Viola Davis 2003–04,
2006, 2008 		7
Lorna Scarry Mariette Hartley 2003–04
2006, 2009,
2011 		6
Nikki Staines Callie Thorne 2003–04 2
Rebecca Balthus Beverly D'Angelo 2003,
2007–08 		5
Lionel Granger David Thornton 2003–10 10
Dave Seaver Michael Boatman 2003–04,
2006,
2010–11 		7 Crossing over from Law & Order
Lynne Riff Blair Brown 2004 2
Chauncey Zierko Peter Riegert 2004–07 7
Oliver Gates Barry Bostwick 2004–07 5
Jason Whitaker Bradley Cooper 2005 1 Cross-over episode with Law & Order: Trial By Jury
Linden Delroy J. Paul Nicholas 2005–06
2008–12 		12
Sophie Devere Annie Potts 2005–07,
2009 		4
Hashi Horowitz Joe Grifasi 2005–07,
2009–11,
2013 		9 Later Judge
Charlie Moss James Naughton 2006–07 2
Matthew Braden Steven Weber 2007 3
Russell Hunter Austin Lysy 2007–11 7
Miranda Pond Alex Kingston 2009–10 4
Patrice Larue Jeri Ryan 2009–10 3
Dwight Stannich Robert Klein 2009–12 4
John Buchanan Delaney Williams 2010–present 11
Jonah Dekker Terrence Howard 2011 1 Crossing over from Law & Order: LA
Marvin Exley Ron Rifkin 2011–12,
2014		 6
Bayard Ellis Andre Braugher 2011–13,
2015 		6
Sherri West Francie Swift 2011 1 Previously ADA
Linus Tate David Pittu 2011–14 6
Crane Jacqueline Hendy 2012–15 6
Kendra Gill Gretchen Egolf 2012 2 Previously ADA
Barry Querns Reg E. Cathey 2012–13 4
Lorenzo Desappio Jason Cerbone 2012–present 6
Rita Calhoun Elizabeth Marvel 2012–present 11
Martha Marron Renee Goldsberry 2013–14 2
Minonna Efron Nia Vardalos 2013–14 3
Ben Cohen Jeffrey Tambor 2013–14 4
Vanessa Mayer Lauren Ambrose 2013 2

Judges

Characters Cast Years Seasons #Eps Notes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
Judge Alan Ridenour Harvey Atkin 2000–11 18
Judge Susan Valdera Leslie Ayvazian 2000–02 5
Judge Kevin Beck Peter Francis James 2000 5
Judge Barry Abrams Patrick Tovatt 2000 1 Crossing over from Law & Order
Judge Walter Schreiber John Ramsay 2000 1 Crossing over from Law & Order
Judge Margaret Barry Doris Belack 2000–01 2 Crossing over from Law & Order
Judge Mark Seligman Tom O'Rourke 2000–06 19
Judge Lena Petrovsky Joanna Merlin 2000–11 43
Judge Arthur Cohen David Lipman 2002–09 13
Judge Danielle Larsen Sheila Tousey 2003–04 10
Judge Lois Preston Audrie J. Neenan 2003–11 20
Judge Walter Bradley Peter McRobbie 2003–08,
2011–12 		18 Crossing over from Law & Order
Judge Mary Clark Marlo Thomas 2004 4
Judge Philip Wyler William Whitehead 2004 2
Judge Rebecca Steinman Susan Blommaert 2004 1 Crossing over from Law & Order
Judge Joseph Terhune Philip Bosco 2004, 2006 6
Judge Karen Taten Patricia Kalember 2004–08,
2010 		9
Judge Elizabeth Donnelly Judith Light 2005–10 12 Previously Bureau Chief ADA
Judge Peter Harrison Peter Gerety 2007–08,
2013 		4
Judge Gregory Trenton John Henry Cox 2007, 2010 2
Judge Barry Moredock John Cullum 2008–11 5 Previously Defense Attorney
Judge L. Maskin Tonye Patano 2009–12 6
Judge D. Andrews Lindsay Crouse 2009–11 7
Judge Sylvia Quinn Kate Nelligan 2010 2
Judge Sheila Tripler Anita Gillette 2010 2
Judge D. Serani Michael Mastro 2011–present 11
Judge Elana Barth Jenna Stern 2011–13
2015–present 		9
Judge Karyn Blake Ami Brabson 2012–15 7
Judge Felicia Catano Aida Turturro 2013–present 7
Judge Delilah Hawkins Victoria Rowell 2013–14 2
Judge Hashi Horowitz Joe Grifasi 2015 1 Previously Defense Attorney

Medical Experts

Characters Cast Years Seasons #Eps Notes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
M.E. Elizabeth Rodgers Leslie Hendrix 1999–2000 9 Crossing over from Law & Order
Dr. Elizabeth Olivet Carolyn McCormick 1999–2001,
2013 		4 Crossing over from Law & Order
Dr. Emil Skoda J.K. Simmons 2000–01 6 Crossing over from Law & Order
M.E. Melinda Warner Tamara Tunie 2000–05,
2011–present 		88 Regular character from 2005–11 (seasons 7–12)
Dr. Emily Sopher Linda Emond 2004,
2008–09,
2011, 2013,
2014 		7
Dr. Rebecca Hendrix Mary Stuart Masterson 2004–07 5
Dr. Cap Jackson Jeremy Irons 2011 2
Dr. Peter Lindstrom Bill Irwin 2013–present 11
M.E. Carl Rudnick Jefferson Mays 2014–16 7

Hospital Personnel

Characters Cast Years Seasons #Eps Notes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
Paramedic Martinez Joselin Reyes 2003–07,
2011–12,
2014–15 		17
Dr. Anne Morella Julie White 2003–05,
2007 		5
ER Nurse Carey Hutchins Elizabeth Flax 2003–05,
2007–11 		13
Dr. Kyle Beresford Stephen Gregory 2004–06,
2008–11 		18
Dr. Jane Larom Anne James 2006–08,
2010–11 		9
Dr. Manning Amir Arison 2009–11 8

The Stabler family

Characters Cast Years Seasons #Eps Notes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
Kathy Stabler Isabel Gillies 1999–2011 30
Maureen Stabler Erin Broderick 1999–2002,
2005, 2007 		13
Kathleen Stabler Holiday Segal
Allison Siko 		1999, 2002,
2005–10 		19 Holiday Segal is replaced by Allison Siko as Kathleen Stabler in 2005
Richard "Dickie" Stabler Jeffrey Scaperrotta 1999–2001,
2004–05,
2007–09 		17
Elizabeth "Lizzie" Stabler Patricia Cook 1999–01,
2004–05,
2007 		13
Elliot Stabler Jr. Various 2008–11 5
Bernadette Stabler Ellen Burstyn 2008 1 Elliot's mother

Minor characters

Kathy Stabler

Kathy Stabler is Detective Elliot Stabler's wife. Elliot and Kathy got married when they were 17 years old. Kathy and Elliot are separated for some time in Seasons 6 through 8, but Kathy shows up in the squad-room in the Season 8 finale "Screwed" and tells him that she needs him to come home because she is pregnant. In the Season 9 episode "Paternity," Kathy and Detective Benson are involved in a car accident while Benson was helping Elliot by bringing Kathy to the doctor for a check-up. Kathy is pinned and unconscious when Benson wakes up and calls for help. Benson is tasked with helping EMS stabilize her as they cannot get into the car. Kathy is extracted from the car by firefighters and placed in the ambulance, where she goes into labor and delivers a baby boy before she becomes unconscious again. Elliot, who had been upstate retrieving a perp, arrives at the hospital and embraces Kathy and his new son, Elliot Jr. Kathy and Elliot have five children together: Maureen, Kathleen Louise, twins Richard and Elizabeth, and Elliot Jr.

TARU Tech Ruben Morales

Ruben Morales is an officer in the NYPD's Technical Assistance Response Unit who aided the SVU squad with investigations that included computer or video evidence. He appeared in 52 episodes between Seasons 3-12. In the Season 7 episode "Web," Morales takes a hands on approach in the investigation of an Internet pornography site. Due to his own guilt about his nephew's rape by an online predator, Morales beats one of the suspects up in the interrogation room, threatening the detectives' case.

CSU Tech Ryan O'Halloran

Crime Scene Technician Ryan O'Halloran came in frequent contact with the SVU detectives when they investigated crime scenes of their victims. He appeared in 52 episodes between Seasons 5-10. He was one of SVU's biggest allies until his death in the Season 10 finale. He was murdered by crooked CSU tech Dale Stuckey, who was trying to prevent O'Halloran from informing the detectives that he was the real killer of a defense attorney and young woman.

Ed Tucker

Ed Tucker is an officer in the Internal Affairs Bureau of the NYPD who has frequently been assigned to question the SVU squad whenever there is an allegation of misconduct. He has appeared in 21 episodes throughout the duration of the series, starting with the Season 3 episode "Counterfeit." He has opened numerous investigations on Detectives Stabler, Benson, Amaro, and Rollins and frequently feuded with Captain Cragen. Tucker was originally introduced as a Sergeant, but was later promoted to Lieutenant. Although he feuded with the squad for many years, Tucker slowly becomes an ally for Benson after she takes over for Cragen as squad commander. In the Season 16 episode, "Surrendering Noah", he alerted Benson that 1PP will likely not consider promoting Amaro to Sergeant now that Benson, who looks to become SVU's Lieutenant, will need a Sergeant by her side. In the Season 17 episode, "Townhouse Incident", Tucker, who has been named the Captain of IAB, acts as the hostage negotiator when Benson is involved in a violent home invasion.

Sister Peg

Sister Peg is a Catholic nun who lived and worked in New York City. Most of her work involved helping and protecting prostitutes, and as such, she sometimes came into contact with SVU Detectives Elliot Stabler and Olivia Benson. In the Season 6 episode "Pure," she was kidnapped by the murderer that the SVU detectives were trying to capture after they came in contact in the SVU squad-room. She was beat up by a pimp named in the Season 8 episode "Underbelly," after trying to help one of his girls. She was killed in the Season 12 finale "Smoked" by the young girl who fired a gun in the SVU squad-room with the intention of killing the men in holding who murdered her mother.

Ken Randall

Ken Randall is Detective Tutuola's son and is introduced in the season 6 episode, "Haunted", in which Tutuola is shot after trying to prevent a robbery. Prior to his appearance, Tutuola had mentioned several times that he had a son. Ken reveals to his father that he is openly gay in the season 7 episode, "Strain". In the season 7 episode, "Venom", Ken is arrested after he was found digging in a vacant lot while he was intoxicated. It is discovered that Ken was searching for the woman and baby that his half-brother, Darius, said he had killed. This puts heat on Tutuola within the squad, as he fights to exonerate his son and prove that Darius is a murderer. When Darius cons SVU into getting his confession without his lawyer present, the case continues in the season 8 finale, "Screwed". Ken returns to try to help his father and the rest of the detectives find evidence to convict Darius. While being questioned on the stand, Ken's mother is forced to reveal that Darius was a product of rape by her own father. In the season 13 episode, "Learning Curve", Ken asks for Sergeant Munch's help in revealing to his father that he is getting married. But before Ken is able to tell his father, his fiance is brutally attacked. While at the hospital, Munch tells Tutuola that the man is Ken's fiance, which makes Tutuola determined to find the attackers.

Special Agent Dana Lewis

Special Agent Dana Lewis was portrayed by Marcia Gay Harden in episodes "Raw", "Informed", "Penetration", & "Secrets Exhumed".

FBI Agent Dana Lewis, who first introduced in the Season 7 episode "Raw" while working undercover to bring down a white supremacist group as "Star Morrison". Lewis (while undercover as Star) slaps Munch and calls him "kike" as a part of her cover, prompting her arrest for assaulting a police officer. She tries to apologize for her actions after the case is over, but Munch holds no grudge. Agent Lewis specializes in undercover work, often working under assumed identities for weeks or even months at a time. While working undercover, she uses the name Star Morrison and speaks with a Southern accent (though the actress herself is not from the South). In the Season 8 premiere "Informed," she shows up in New York again when Detective Benson is hounding her eco-terrorism informant to tell her about her rape. Lewis and Benson must find the informant after she goes missing and stop her from conducting a terrorist bombing. Lewis mentions to Benson that she calls her informant "Peggy Sue" because she reminds Lewis of her baby sister, Margaret. In her last appearance, Lewis tells Benson and Stabler that her family (husband and children) is currently living in Europe to protect them from criminals who attempt to retaliate against her. One of these criminals, the leader of the aforementioned supremacist group, ordered a fellow inmate to attack and rape her in the Season 12 episode "Penetration". Elliot Stabler has been injured each time she has worked with them, by gunshot in Season 7, by explosives in Season 8, and by gunshot again in Season 12 which was the only injury she was directly responsible for. Stabler half-jokingly refers to her as a "jinx," saying "[he's] nearly been killed" every time Lewis shows up; she counters his remarks by saying that maybe she is his "good luck charm," as he's survived every injury during their three episodes together.

In the season 14 episode, "Secrets Exhumed", Agent Lewis returns to partner with SVU when she believes that a Manhattan cold case is connected to several rape-homicides across the country. Lewis beats Detectives Benson and Amaro to the Miami correctional facility where the detectives were supposed to rearrest the suspect, a handicapped man, who was being released after completing his stint for another crime. Lewis accompanies Benson and Amaro back to Manhattan, where she observes the interrogation and pleads with Captain Cragen to let her have a shot at the suspect after the detectives could not get the man to admit to killing the fifth victim. When Cragen obliges, Lewis sweats the suspect into admitting he was at the scene when the victim was murdered. Amaro begins to question the confession when the boyfriend of the victim comes to the precinct and Lewis says that he was an old friend from college. Pieces of the confession begin to fall apart as Munch and Rollins finds evidence missing in the cold case file and the boyfriend of the victim admits to having a romantic relationship with Agent Lewis. Amaro then gets the suspect to recant his confession and Lewis begins to seem increasingly panicked. Cragen gets Lewis to believe that the handicapped suspect had an accident and he will be awhile before her and Benson could re-interview him. As Benson begins to ask Lewis questions, Lewis realizes that Benson's questioning seemed interrogation-like. Benson and Amaro begin to ask Lewis pressing questions about the nature of Lewis' relationship with the victim and her boyfriend at the time. They get her to admit they had a several-month-long romantic relationship, which subsequently got Lewis pregnant. After he forced Lewis to get an abortion, she found out that he asked the victim to marry him. Lewis, in tears, admits she went to the victim's home, and after the victim taunted Lewis with the fact he asked her to marry her, she says she blacked out. She says that when she came to, the girl was dead. She tells Benson, who is clearly shocked and distraught, that she is so sorry. Cragen enters the room with a pair of handcuffs and tells Lewis she is under arrest for the murder. Amaro grabs the handcuffs and takes her into custody. Resigned to her fate, she cooperates, repeatedly saying, "I understand," as tears continue rolling down her cheeks.

Special Agent Dean Porter

FBI Agent Dean Porter worked with Detective Benson as her handler during her stint undercover in an Oregon eco-terrorist group during season 8. When a man is murdered with ties to the group EDGE, it's discovered he was a pedophile by Benson, working under the name Persephone James, who is investigating the crime as a civilian. After Benson uncovers the pedophile nest and deduces that a girl is missing, Porter blows Benson's cover after she was arrested by local police. Benson convinces Porter to help her search for the girl even though Porter was aggravated with Benson and her obsession on finding the girl. But when they find the victim and she confesses to why she killed her rapist, Porter understands why Benson is passionate for working sex crimes.[39]

Porter returns later in the Season 8 episode "Florida" after Benson gives Simon Marsden (Michael Weston) money, who she had just discovered was her half-brother. Marsden was being looked at by River Park, NJ police on suspicion of rape. Porter wanted to arrest Benson for helping Marsden, so he offered her a deal, no jail time if she helped Porter catch him. Marsden flees after a meet with Olivia when he felt something was wrong and Porter let Olivia go as he had no direct evidence of her helping Simon. After they finally find Marsden holding the River Park Police Captain hostage, it is discovered that the Captain is setting Marsden up, and Porter decides to drop charges the FBI had against Marsden. Porter returns a few episodes later in the episode "Screwed," when the SVU squad is under fire due to Fin's stepson Darius (Ludacris) being on trial for murder. Porter is trying not to be subpoenaed by the defense to avoid having to give dirt on Detective Benson. At the end of the episode as everything is unraveling for the SVU squad, Benson convinces Porter to tell IAB about his involvement with her and her brother.[40]

Porter returns in the Season 9 episode "Savant" when SVU is working on a case where a girl with Williams syndrome heard her mother being beaten and raped. Her father Ben Nicholson (Aidan Quinn) is being eyed by the FBI for extortion and other federal crimes and Porter is upset with SVU for running interference with the FBI's case against Nicholson. Porter returned in Season 11's "Spooked" to work a case with SVU where two people were killed, their killer leaving a rape tree. Benson and Stabler believed the case was a drug-deal gone bad with involvement from a Mexican drug cartel. It is revealed Porter knew who the killer was all along as the victim's roommate Terri Baines (Paola Mendoza) was working with the FBI as undercover intelligence agent. Porter tried to take over the investigation several times, going so far as having the Special Victims Unit's telephones tapped to keep tabs on the case. Porter has not been seen since.

Simon Marsden was portrayed by Michael Weston in episodes "Philadelphia", "Florida", "Screwed", "Child's Welfare".

Simon Marsden

Simon Marsden is Detective Benson's half-brother whom she discovers through a DNA kinship analysis. He caused extensive trouble throughout Season 8 for Olivia and the entire squad after Olivia seeks him out at his New Jersey home. She discovers he is being investigated by police for stalking, but in the Season 8 episode "Florida," it is revealed he is being set up by the police captain after Simon holds her hostage. Because of Benson's involvement with a "fugitive," she is suspended for some time, which is made known in the Season 9 premiere "Alternate." Simon makes his return in Season 13, when he pleads with Detective Benson to help him after his children are removed by the city (Benson is visibly shaken when Simon says that their father was a better parent to him, than he was to his own kids). Benson enlists attorney Bayard Ellis to act as Simon's lawyer, but she is shocked when Captain Cragen alerts her that Simon has kidnapped the children from foster care.

Bayard Ellis

Bayard Ellis was portrayed by Andre Braugher in episodes "True Believers", "Spiraling Down", "Child's Welfare", "Justice Denied", "Monster's Legacy" & "Perverted Justice".

Defense Attorney Bayard Ellis is introduced in Season 13's "True Believers." He is said to be a high-powered defense attorney who has turned his attention to the underprivileged and minorities, which in turn makes him a civil rights champion. In "True Believers," he defends a black man who is on trial for attacking a girl in her apartment, and cites poor police procedure and the victim's creditably to get a not guilty verdict. At the close of this episode, he has a discussion with Detective Benson on the steps of the courthouse. After Benson blasts him for shaming the young girl on the stand, he tells her that she needs an escape and gives her his card, telling her to come by one of his daughter's softball games. In the episode "Spiraling Down," Benson gives Ellis' card to the defendant's wife, whose husband is former football star who suffers from diminished capacity. He defends the former football star and receives a not guilty verdict. Benson also calls on Ellis when her half-brother is in need of legal help after his kids have been removed by the city. Benson and Ellis have become close, which creates conflict in the episode "Justice Denied," as Ellis defends a man who Benson coerced a confession out of eight years earlier. Executive ADA David Haden, the prosecutor who is re-investigating the case and Benson's love interest, is confronted by Ellis about their relationship and threatens to expose them if they didn't do the right thing. Benson asks Ellis to give her some time to find the real rapist, which she does, or she will tell the District Attorney about her relationship with EADA Haden. Ellis returns in the Season 14 episode, "Monster's Legacy", when Detective Benson asks him to look into the case of Reggie Rhodes (Mike Tyson), who is scheduled to be executed after being convicted of murder in Ohio. Benson is able to get Rhodes to admit that he was abused when he was a child by the head of a camp in New York, which allows Ellis to argue that Rhodes' original defense attorney never presented that during the trial. Ellis uncovers a massive cover up by the lead prosecutor in the original case, who withheld photographic evidence of Rhodes being sexually assaulted by the man he murdered. Ellis subsequently convinces the judge to spare Rhodes from execution. Ellis is next seen in Season 16 episode, "Perverted Justice", when he comes to Benson and SVU asking them to reinvestigate a case he is working for Project Innocence. With the help of the now retired Captain Cragen, Ellis is able to vacate the original charge against his client for raping his daughter decades earlier.

Marie Grazie Amaro

Marie Grazie Amaro has been portrayed by Laura Benanti in ten episodes since season 13.

Detective Amaro's wife, Marie, is introduced in the Season 13 episode "Spiraling Down". She is serving in the armed forces and stationed in Iraq. In "Spiraling Down," Amaro video chats with her about the father of a victim in one of his cases, who served overseas with her. They have somewhat of a tense conversation, as she does not like the tone he is using with her, after he asked why he has never heard of this man. After returning to New York City in the episode "Official Story," she heads back overseas on a new assignment. In the episode "Valentine's Day," she is once again back in New York and shows up in the squad room after Amaro was late for their Valentine's Day dinner. At the end of this episode, Amaro watches his wife enter an unknown brownstone, and he has the increased suspicion that she is having an affair. In the following episode, "Street Revenge," Amaro sees her meet for lunch with the same military friend who appeared in "Spiraling Down". Amaro drives to Philadelphia, where her friend lives, punches him, and tells him to stay away from his wife. Marie discovers this and comes into the squad room in a rage, knocking folders off his desk. They begin to argue in front of the squad, until Cragen tells Amaro, "not here," and they go into the bunk room. Amaro reveals his suspicion and she says that she is not having an affair and that the brownstone he saw her enter was her psychiatrist, before she storms out of the room. In the Season 14 premiere, after Amaro delays talking to her about their issues, he finally begins to apologize when she tells him that she has taken a job in Washington, D.C. and she is taking their daughter with her.

William Lewis

William Lewis has been portrayed by Pablo Schreiber in eight episodes since season 14.

William Lewis is a serial rapist and murderer who had gotten away with numerous counts of rape and murder because of mistakes in the system made by different police jurisdictions. In the season 14 finale, Benson and ADA Barba pursue to get justice for Lewis' victims and get him locked up for good; but again, Lewis walks on a technicality. Lewis later breaks into Detective Benson's apartment and tortures her before later abducting her to torture and rape her at an isolated location, killing a traffic cop and his defense attorney's parents in his travel. Eventually the police catch up to Lewis and Benson, after Benson managed to break free of her restraints and incapacitate Lewis. Lewis is shipped off to a hospital and is later charged and brought to trial (SVU: "Psycho/Therapist") for his assault and abduction of Benson. Lewis represents himself in his trial and maneuvers to force Benson to take the stand and tell everyone what he did to her and what she did to him; crippling him in one leg, breaking numerous internal organs, and even deafening him in one ear, after she had already handcuffed him to a bed post. Benson lied and denied that she had him restrained, that he had broken free and she had to harm him to subdue him, this drove Lewis in a rage during his cross testimony with her. Lewis was found not guilty on the assault charge but guilty on the abduction charge. He goes away to prison but before the trial ended, he bribed a juror to use drugged baked goods for them to make him sick and have a way to make a jailbreak. Lewis then pursues to go after Benson again, killing and raping people in his path and abducting a little girl, Amelia Cole (Lily Pilblad) to make Benson come to him at an abandoned quarry where Lewis abducted her again, and was about to attempt to rape Benson again, but when he saw Benson wasn't going to fight with him like before (because Olivia would have rather Lewis rape her than Amelia, who was tied up), he decided to force her to play a game of Russian roulette with him, involving the SVU and police searching for Benson, letting them listening in on their radios. It wound up where Olivia had to take the last bullet, thinking he was about to kill her, he stood beside her and quickly shot himself in the head with his left hand which caused reasonable doubt, making Internal Affairs believe Benson shot and killed Lewis, but the charges against Benson was later dropped. The last thing Lewis told Benson, was his death would be the last thing she'd see. At the Kings County morgue, Benson asks if she can take one last look at Lewis' dead body before he's rolled back into the cooler.

Deputy Chief William Dodds

Peter Gallagher portrays Deputy Chief William Dodds, the tough-as-nails head of all the Special Victims Units in New York City.

The newly appointed Deputy Chief of the Special Victims Units in all five boroughs, Dodds is Sergeant (later Lieutenant) Benson's politically-savvy commanding officer. A former homicide detective, he is often hard on Benson and her squad, most notably during their early interactions, but ultimately respects the work that they do and frequently backs them up to the NYPD brass. He assisted the squad during their investigation into Atlanta PD Deputy Chief Charles Patton (Harry Hamlin), who was accused of assaulting one of his own detectives in a New York City hotel, by personally interviewing Patton in the interrogation room. In season 17, he names his son, Mike (Andy Karl), Manhattan SVU's new sergeant.

Various minor characters

Christine Danielson was portrayed by Gloria Reuben in episodes "Snitch", "Merchandise" & "Dirty".
Darius Parker was portrayed by Chris "Ludacris" Bridges in episodes "Venom" & "Screwed".
Paula Foster was portrayed by Paget Brewster in episodes "Lost Reputation" & "Above Suspicion".
Steven Harris was portrayed by Adam Baldwin in episodes "Lost Reputation", "Above Suspicion" & "Twenty-Five Acts".

Crossover characters within the Law & Order universe

Name Portrayed by Year # Eps Original series
Captain Donald Cragen Dann Florek 1999–2015 331 Law & Order
Detective/Sergeant John Munch Richard Belzer 1999–2014 324 Homicide: Life on the Street
Medical Examiner Elizabeth Rodgers Leslie Hendrix 1999–2000 9 Law & Order
Detective Lennie Briscoe Jerry Orbach 1999–2000 3
Detective Ed Green Jesse L. Martin 1999–2000 2
Dr. Elizabeth Olivet Carolyn McCormick 1999–2001,
2013 		4
ADA Abbie Carmichael Angie Harmon 1999–2000 6
District Attorney Adam Schiff Steven Hill 2000 1
Dr. Emil Skoda J.K. Simmons 2000–01 6
District Attorney Nora Lewin Dianne Wiest 2000–02 2
Executive ADA / District Attorney Jack McCoy Sam Waterston 2000–10 3
Judge Barry Abrams Patrick Tovatt 2000 1
Judge Walter Schreiber John Ramsay 2000 1
Judge Margaret Barry Doris Belack 2000–01 2
District Attorney Arthur Branch Fred Dalton Thompson 2003–06 11
Judge Walter Bradley Peter McRobbie 2003–12 18
Defense Attorney Dave Seaver Michael Boatman 2003–11 7
Judge Rebecca Steinman Susan Blommaert 2004 1
Bureau Chief ADA Tracey Kibre Bebe Neuwirth 2005 1 Law & Order: Trial By Jury
District Attorney Investigator Hector Salazar Kirk Acevedo 2005 1
Gwen Munch Carol Kane 2009,
2013 		2 Homicide: Life on the Street
Detective Rex Winters Skeet Ulrich 2010 1 Law & Order: LA
DDA Jonah Dekker Terrence Howard 2011 1
Bureau Chief ADA Michael Cutter Linus Roache 2011–12 4 Law & Order
Lieutenant Alexandra Eames Kathryn Erbe 2012–13 2 Law & Order: Criminal Intent
Father Shea Denis O'Hare 2013 1
Detective Meldrick Lewis Clark Johnson 2013 1 Homicide: Life on the Street
Billie Lou Hatfield Ellen McElduff 2013 1
Assistant US Attorney Connie Rubirosa Alana de la Garza 2014 1 Law & Order
Law & Order: LA
Detective Erin Lindsay Sophia Bush 2014–16 4 Chicago PD
Sergeant Hank Voight Jason Beghe 2014–16 3
Detective Jay Halstead Jesse Lee Soffer 2014–15 2
Officer Kim Burgess Marina Squerciati 2015 1
Officer Sean Roman Brian Geraghty 2015 1
Nadia Decotis Stella Maeve 2015 1
Detective Antonio Dawson Jon Seda 2016 1

References

  1. ↑ Lannucci, Rebecca (October 20, 2015). "TVLine Items: B.D. Wong's SVU Return, SNL Head Writer Steps Down and More". TVLine. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
  2. ↑ Kukoff, David (2006). Vault Guide to Television Writing Careers. Vault, Inc. p. 71. ISBN 1-58131-371-3.
  3. ↑ Episode E2318, "Rooftop", October 19, 2001
  4. ↑ Episode 10007, "PTSD", December 2, 2008
  5. ↑ "Day 2 of shooting Law & Order: SVU season 13, ep 1, Munch, Fin, and Rollins watch a media circus.". Twitter.com. August 16, 2011.
  6. ↑ "Scorched Earth". Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Season 13. Episode 1. September 21, 2011. NBC.
  7. ↑ "Double Strands". Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Season 13. Episode 4. October 12, 2011. NBC.
  8. ↑ "Theatre Tricks". Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Season 13. Episode 11. January 11, 2012. NBC.
  9. ↑ Finding Emily
  10. 1 2 "Educated Guess". Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Season 13. Episode 8. November 16, 2011. NBC.
  11. ↑ "Home Invasions". Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Season 13. Episode 14. February 15, 2012. NBC.
  12. ↑ Season 8 episode "Haystack"
  13. ↑ Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episode "Disrobed"
  14. ↑ Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episode "Limitations"
  15. ↑ Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episode "Honor"
  16. ↑ Simon, David (2006) [1991]. Homicide, A Year on the Killing Streets. New York: Owl Books. p. hoto insert section.
  17. ↑ "Prescription for Death". Law & Order. Season 1. Episode 1. September 13, 1990. NBC.
  18. ↑ "TV.com: More cast departures for crime procedurals". Retrieved 2008-05-18.
  19. ↑ Blaustein, Michael (July 22, 2011). "Warm welcome". New York Post.
  20. 1 2 "Personal Fouls". Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Season 13. Episode 2. September 28, 2011. NBC.
  21. 1 2 "Blood Brothers". Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Season 13. Episode 3. October 5, 2011. NBC.
  22. ↑ Nancy Ticotin
  23. ↑ "Missing Pieces". Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Season 13. Episode 5. October 19, 2011. NBC.
  24. ↑ "Hunting Ground". Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Season 13. Episode 15. February 22, 2012. NBC.
  25. ↑ "Valentine's Day". Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Season 13. Episode 18. April 18, 2012. NBC.
  26. ↑ "Street Revenge". Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Season 13. Episode 19. April 25, 2012. NBC.
  27. ↑ "Lost Reputation". Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Season 14. Episode 01. September 26, 2012. NBC.
  28. ↑ "Above Suspicion". Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Season 14. Episode 02. September 26, 2012. NBC.
  29. ↑ "Twenty-Five Acts". Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Season 14. Episode 03. October 10, 2012. NBC.
  30. ↑ Chris Harnick. "‘Law and Order: SVU Reveals the Father of Rollins' Baby". eonline. Retrieved October 15, 2015.
  31. ↑ "Torch". Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Season 11. April 28, 2010. 2:45–2:50 minutes in. NBC. Jo Marlowe: Elliot frigging Stabler. What's it been 10 years? Elliot: Closer to 15.
  32. ↑ Tucker, Ken (April 29, 2010). "Sharon Stone on 'Law & Order: SVU' review: Fire, but no sparks". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
  33. ↑ Ross, Robyn (November 3, 2010). "SVU's New ADA is Tough, But Has Heart, Says Actress". TV Guide. Retrieved November 3, 2010.
  34. ↑ "Mary Stuart Masterson Reprises Role as Dr. Rebecca Hendrix on 'SVU'". The Futon Critic. 2005-10-10.
  35. ↑ Levin, Gary (2004-12-06). "'Law & Order' stays orderly". USA Today. Retrieved 2004-12-06.
  36. ↑ "Exclusive Online Interview". NBC. 2004. Retrieved April 7, 2015.
  37. ↑ "Mary Stuart Masterson Reprises Role as Dr. Rebecca Hendrix on SVU". The Futon Critic. October 10, 2005. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  38. 1 2 Rudolph, Ileane (August 21, 2012). "Paget Brewster's Guest Spot on Law & Order: SVU Goes Head-to-Head With Criminal Minds". TV Guide. Retrieved August 22, 2012.
  39. ↑ "Infiltrated". Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Season 8. Episode 6. October 31, 2006. NBC.
  40. ↑ "Screwed". Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Season 8. Episode 22. May 22, 2007. NBC.
  41. ↑ Raftery, Liz (July 18, 2012). "Criminal Minds' Paget Brewster Lands Guest Spot on SVU". TV Guide. Retrieved August 3, 2012.
  42. ↑ Bryant, Adam (July 22, 2012). "Exclusive: Law & Order: SVU Casts Adam Baldwin as Cragen's Replacement!". TV Guide. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
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