The twenty-third season of the American crime-drama television seriesLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit was ordered on February 27, 2020, by NBC.[1] It was set to air during the 2021–2022 television season,[2] the season was produced by Wolf Entertainment and Universal Television; the showrunner was Warren Leight, in the third and final season of his second stint in the role.[3] The season premiered on September 23, 2021, and concluded on May 19, 2022.[4] The series' milestone 500th episode aired this season as the sixth episode and saw the return of former Detective Nick Amaro and former SVU Captain Don Cragen.[5][6][7] This is the last season for Jamie Gray Hyder and Demore Barnes as they departed in the premiere episode.[8] The season consisted of 22 episodes.
When a powerful congressman (Ben Rappaport) is using his political instincts to traffic girls, Benson and the Special Victims Unit race against the clock to put him away for life but the case may be harder than they thought. Benson faces a major dilemma when her loyalty to Garland is tested over the backfired Jayvon Brown case. Meanwhile, Detective Joe Velasco (Octavio Pisano) joins the SVU squad when he is assigned to the case by Chief McGrath (Terry Serpico). Also, a suspicious car accident puts Benson's life in danger.
496
2
"Never Turn Your Back on Them"
Norberto Barba
Teleplay by : Julie Martin & Bryan Goluboff Story by : Warren Leight
The Special Victims Unit faces a major setback when one of the witnesses of Congressman Howard is missing and the others dead or threatened. It leads Fin and Kat down a dangerous path which puts Kat's life in danger. Meanwhile, Rollins and Carisi determine the status of their relationship. Kat resigns from the Special Victims Unit after her accident made her realize that change is not worth her to stay and Benson become even more distraught when she realizes that Garland is also resigning as Deputy Chief after what happened with the Javon Brown case.
Benson and Rollins must contend with the FBI and the Organized Crime bureau when a rape victim (Herizen Guardiola) identifies a dangerous mobster (Rhys Coiro) as her assailant. Unfortunately, the Special Victims Unit realizes that the perp is way more connected than they originally thought, further complicating things for the victim. The FBI and the Organized Crime Bureau want to take down the head of a crime family with the perp's help. When they take down the perp, Stabler shoots him putting the perp in the hospital. When Carisi goes to see the perp, the US Marshalls took him out. SVU don't know whether to trust Stabler and Bell after the outcome of this case.
Benson and Fin faces the tight reins of Chief McGrath when the SVU squad searches for a serial rapist who preys on mothers with young children. Meanwhile, Velasco is not receiving a warm welcome into the precinct when the squad uncovers that he may be a spy for McGrath.
The SVU squad is dragged into the center world of social media when a rape victim (Lena Torluemke) is assaulted by two popular influencers (Jakob Winter and Conor Sweeney). When the victim's friend (Taylor Trensch) is unable to come forward, he does everything in his power to make it right.
Detective Nick Amaro (Danny Pino) returns to the Special Victims Unit after six years not only to reunite with his former squad members but to reopen a case that places Benson with someone from her past (Aidan Quinn) in order to clear a convicted man's name for rape but there may be a secret from his past that causes friction with Benson. Meanwhile, former Captain Donald Cragen (Dann Florek) helps the squad with the case.
When a teenage sex worker disappears, Rollins and Velasco find a key clue in a pile of neglected missing persons reports and discover they are dealing with a serial killer.
Carisi asks SVU for help with a murder investigation when one of the witnesses (Alison Thornton) shows signs of abuse which causes Benson and SVU to investigate.
Carisi tries Richard Wheatley (Dylan McDermott) for the murder of Kathy Stabler. After his continuous change of lawyers, Rafael Barba ends up defending him Benson finds herself with Barba (Raúl Esparza) when she finds out about him taking the case. After numerous testimonies from Angela Wheatley, Richie Wheatley, Sergeant Bell, and even Stabler who is put in contempt of court. The case goes into mistrial, and Stabler has to find out where his son is. This episode begins a crossover event that concludes on Law & Order: Organized Crime season 2 episode 9.
504
10
"Silent Night, Hateful Night"
Norberto Barba
Teleplay by : Julie Martin & Kathy Dobie & Warren Leight Story by : Warren Leight
The SVU is called in to help investigate a wave of hate crimes on Christmas Eve, assisting the Hate Crimes unit now led by Declan Murphy (Donal Logue). Murphy wants to come to a resolution with Rollins about whether he wants to be in his daughter Jessie's life.
A boy disappears after meeting up with an online gamer which soon leads to a deeper secret regarding his uncle Carlos Guzman (Christian Navarro). Benson suspects her son Noah is being bullied by a neighborhood teen and comes out with a secret of his own.
When a popular fighter (Cole Doman) doesn't show up for the biggest bout of the year, Rollins and Velasco are drawn into a complicated web of secrets leading to the man's closeted sexuality. McGrath confides in Benson regarding his teenage daughter who is drinking and behaving erratically.
507
13
"If I Knew Then What I Know Now"
Juan J. Campanella
Teleplay by : Micharne Cloughley & Julie Martin Story by : Micharne Cloughley & Warren Leight
A young woman (Gates Leonard) learning about her birth parents asks Benson for help. Carisi and Rollins weigh the risks of taking their relationship public.
SVU investigates a popular radio show host and author (Jake Weber) accused of molesting the wives of the wealthy and powerful men he has mingled with at various events. Rollins goes undercover to get information but it turns into a murder investigation when he brags about having sex with the widows of his alleged victims.
The episode is dedicated to the memory of Ned Eisenberg.
509
15
"Promising Young Gentlemen"
David Grossman
Teleplay by : Kathy Dobie & Candice Sanchez McFarlane & Brianna Yellen Story by : Julie Martin & Warren Leight
Rollins meets Carisi's mother (Beverly D'Angelo) for the first time at his childhood home. After leaving the dinner party, Carisi's niece Mia (Ryann Shane) calls him for help because her friend (Avery Cole) was raped. Carisi encourages them to report it, which leads Benson to investigate a college's secret society that preys on female students.
After a date where Velasco meets a woman (Christine Spang) through a dating app, Velasco discovers she is a rape victim. She later learns her abuser, the app's creator (Jon Glaser) had raped another woman a couple years prior, the victim's godmother (Sherri Saum) and later struggles to cope with the abuse when she takes matters into her own hands. Meanwhile, Velasco finds himself in the witness stand and his judgement being questioned.
511
17
"Once Upon a Time in El Barrio"
Oscar René Lozoya II
Teleplay by : Denis Hamill & Monet Hurst-Mendoza Story by : Bryan Goluboff & Denis Hamill
Velasco's former parish priest in Mexico calls him for help when three girls from his hometown go missing in New York City. Benson and the team find themselves up against a trafficking ring backed by a violent cartel.
512
18
"Eighteen Wheels a Predator"
Martha Mitchell
Teleplay by : Brianna Yellen & Monet Hurst-Mendoza Story by : Kathy Dobie
Rollins and Fin investigate an assault in Kentucky that has striking similarities to a victim found in Central Park. As they uncover more cases in other states, they soon realize that there is an elusive serial rapist on the loose.
When a student’s school reports a girl missing, the squad must track down a trusted family friend for answers. Benson gets a mother's day surprise from Noah and ends up with him meeting Stabler for the first time. This episode begins a crossover event that concludes on Law & Order: Organized Crime season 2 episode 20.[27]
515
21
"Confess Your Sins to Be Free"
Norberto Barba
Teleplay by : Julie Martin & Christian Tyler Story by : Denis Hamill & Warren Leight
When the only evidence in a crime is a church confession, Carisi must find another way to prove his suspect guilty. Burton Lowe reappears to make things right with Benson.
A domestic violence victim winds up at the defendant’s table and Rollins surprises Carisi with formidable opponent Rafael Barba. Benson struggles with forgiving Barba for defending Wheatley and grapples with her own feelings.
Ratings
Viewership and ratings per episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit season 23
