22 Episodes · Premiered September 21, 2016 · Ended May 24, 2017
As acting commander of the SVU, Lieutenant Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) is a seasoned veteran of the unit who has seen it all. She leads with empathy and professionalism, all the while dealing with her difficult past as a product of rape, and her future as mother to a young child, both of which influence the way she relates to each victim in need of help.Detective Odafin "Fin" Tutuola (Ice T) adds a unique sense of humor and undercover investigative experience, making him a formidable match for any partner. Detective Amanda Rollins (Kelli Giddish) has earned her place as an integral part of the team while facing head-on the emotional toll it takes to work SVU, and Detective Dominick "Sonny" Carisi (Peter Scanavino) brings a fresh outlook and distinctive style of investigation to the squad. Assistant District Attorney Rafael Barba (Raúl Esparza) seeks justice for SVU's victims and survivors with precision and a passion to win.
Gary Cole was a guest star as a politician whose campaign goes haywire when several women go public with damaging accusations. The character and the episode, titled "Unstoppable," drew comparisons to then-presidential candidate Donald Trump. The episode was originally scheduled to air on October 26, but was then delayed until November 16 after the election finished. The episode was pulled from the schedule a second time and is indefinitely shelved. Despite never airing, a promo was released for this episode and can be found on YouTube.
A young boy is found wandering alone in Central Park and the search for his parents leads to startling evidence of a planned mass casualty event in the city. As the SVU works with the joint-terrorism task force to find the suspects and the motive, Lt. Benson must also convince Barba to address allegations of rape and torture the boy's mother discloses.
After 16 years in prison, a convicted rapist is exonerated due to newly tested DNA evidence. But only a day later, Fin is called to the scene of a shocking crime and must once again investigate the whereabouts of the man he arrested years ago.
A man tears a family apart when he uses a prominent fake identity to lure a vulnerable wife and mother into his bed. Barba argues that the evidence amounts to rape, but he's faced with a powerful defense attorney and a skeptical judge in court.
An athlete is the victim of sexual assault, but her secret double life could ruin both the case against her attacker and her Olympic future. Meanwhile, Rollins reconnects with her sister Kim after she's released from prison on parole.
A sergeant makes Benson choose between loyalty and duty when his son is accused of rape.
A record label CEO and his protégé are questioned for their involvement in the assault of a transgender student.
A woman is sexually assaulted by a masked man, but she believes the rapist is the same man who went to jail for stalking her. Meanwhile, Tucker contemplates retirement and a future with Benson.
A 6 year-old boy disappears from his bed in the midst of a wild, drug-fueled party thrown by his mother. With a child's life on the line, the case causes Benson to scrutinize her own role as a mother.
The powerful family of a retail empire closes ranks when a bartender accuses one of their own of rape.
A teenaged boy uses a rifle to stop an assault on his mother, but soon learns the target was someone he knows.
The SVU investigates the players of a top youth hockey team after a vicious locker room hazing.
Fin revisits his military roots when a fellow Army Ranger struggles to recover from a sexual assault.
An investigation hits a nerve with Benson when a suspect claims his genetics causes him to commit rape.
A top-level investment banker accuses her billionaire client of rape.
A man under investigation for rape and murder threatens to expose the secrets of those working the case.
Benson and Barba ask witnesses to put their jobs on the line after a news anchor makes an on-air disclosure of rape against her boss.
A congressman falsely accused of soliciting underage girls asks SVU to debunk the rumor, but the investigation leads to a real sex trafficking ring. Meanwhile, Benson and Rollins become the targets of a salacious website.
The SVU investigates a charismatic spiritual healer when a client claims he incapacitated and assaulted her using hypnosis.
When a young woman is raped by a member of her church group, Barba must argue that the First Amendment doesn't entitle a person to break the law.
A hate crime against a Muslim family results in the death of their daughter. When a crucial witness in the case is deported, Barba is forced to drop the charges against a suspect, and tensions rise between communities on opposing sides of the case.
The unexpected release of a suspect in a hate crime case leaves Benson and Barba caught between two families seeking justice for their loved ones. As public protests escalate to violence, Benson goes to desperate lengths to make an arrest.
