This hard-hitting and emotional series from NBC's "Law & Order" brand chronicles the life and times of the Special Victims Unit of the NYC Police Department, the elite squad of detectives who investigate sexually based crimes. The program has received numerous citations from community-based organizations for the social issues it tackles.

The drama follows Detective Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni), a seasoned veteran of the unit who has seen it all, and his partner Detective Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay), whose difficult past - a product of rape - is the reason she joined the unit.

Overseeing the unit is Captain Donald Cragen (Dann Florek, reprising the role he played in the original Law & Order) with a tough but supportive approach to the teams complex cases. Detectives John Munch (Richard Belzer), a transfer from Baltimore's Homicide Unit and Odafin "Fin" Tutuola (Ice-T) fill out the rest of the unit with acerbic wit, conspiracy theories and street-honed investigative skills.

LAW & ORDER: SVU is a Wolf Films production in association with NBC Universal Television Studios.