Law & Order: SVU
(Rated TV-14, Drama, Starring Christopher Meloni, Mariska Hargitay, Richard Belzer, Where to watch: NBC, Syndicated, DVD, Online)
-
Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
-
Common Sense says
Grisly, sensationalized crimes; not meant for kids.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 16–18
What to watch out for
-
Violence:
-
Sex:
-
Language:
-
Consumerism:
-
Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of Law & Order: SVU was written by Liz Perle
Parents need to know that this is the most sensationalized of the Law & Order franchises. Graphic, unusual crimes are the norm, and victims are frequently women and children -- making the show potentially upsetting for younger teens coming into their own sexuality.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about the natures of the crimes. Parents can reassure their children that these crimes, while very real, probably won't happen to them. But families can also discuss the psychological consequences of some of the show's frequent themes.
Have you seen it? Review It!
More on Law & Order: SVU
What’s the Story?
LAW & ORDER: SVU centers on "the elite squad of detectives who investigate sexually based crimes" -- known as the Special Victims Unit of the New York Police Department. Detective Elliot Stabler (played with barely restrained anger by Christopher Meloni) is the seasoned cop whose role is the tough-outside, tender-inside hero. His partner is Detective Olivia Benson (played brilliantly and sympathetically by Mariska Hargitay). One or the other always becomes emotionally involved with the hideous crime at hand. Captain Donald Cragen (Dann Florek, reprising the role he played on the first three seasons of Law & Order 1990-93), is the department chief overseeing the sardonic Detective John Munch (Richard Belzer). Munch's partner, Detective Odafin "Fin" Tutuola (played by rapper Ice-T), adds a percentage of "street cred" to the show. Assistant district attorney Casey Novak (Diane Neal), forensic psychiatrist George Huang (B.D. Wong), and medical examiner Melinda Warner (Tamara Tunie) round out the SVU crew.
Is It Any Good?
Law & Order: SVU is the most disturbing of the NBC Law & Order franchises. Now entering its seventh season, this show is often more popular with younger kids because of the sensationalistic nature of the crimes involved. This show ramps up the natures of the crimes -- rapes, incest, dead infants -- and therefore is not for the faint at heart or the young.
Our Members Say
See all 34 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
-
I rate this title on for age 17 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
thought-provoking and may stimulate useful debate with 16-17plus
-
I rate this title on for age 14 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Great for ages 14+ if they understand the concept/ A no-no for ages 13 and below!
I like this show a lot, however, it can be very strong and confusing if the child does not understand the concept or hiatus of the crime. It's a crime show and anyone under the age of 14 shouldn't be watching it with a parent beside them.
-
I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
really good show
One of the best shows out there
-
I rate this title on for age 17 and give it
There was wrong infromation given out about Hepatitis C on a recent episode - It is not transmitted mainly by sexual contact or dirty needles - Main way to be infected is blood transfusions before 1993, sharing cocaine paraphanalia, body piercing, tatooing and dirty needles would be in this catagory, but according to my research it is not normally passed by sexual contact- if it were my husband would be infected and he is not - A infected pregnant woman usually gives birth to a child who is not infected - I don't think that misinformation is a good thing and writers should have done research - There are several types of Hepatitis - A, B, C, D, E, F, NONSPECIFIC AND AUTOIMUNE - I am not sure they really know what it is, but to just give out that kind of wrong information is not a good thing - Hep C is not Hep B
-
I rate this title off for age 13 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
Defiinitely not for young teens and younger
I had been watching the original Law and Order since I was eight or nine without issue, so my usually very cautious mother thought it would be okay for me to watch SVU starting when I was about thirteen. That was a big mistake - I was an innocent kid who didn't know much about consensual sex but I was seeing all this stuff about rape and molestation - and it kind of skewered my views on sex. It kind of messed me up for several years. My Mom could tell I was upset by it and made me stop watching it, and I'm glad she did. Now I watch it every now and then, but it is disturbing even now! Even the original Law and Order is getting darker and darker - rent the first few seasons of the good old original on DVD instead of watching on TV if you have kids or young teens.
Give Recommendations, Get Them, Too!
Become a member and get recommendations from other parents based on your child's age.Tell us your child's age:
Already a member? Log inOur Members Rate It
Ratings at a Glance
| 71% | of parents say there are good role models |
| 43% | of parents say it gives kids positive messages |
| 43% | of parents say the sexual behavior isn't age appropriate |
| 43% | of parents say it's too violent |
Have you seen it?
For Your Family
Get age-based recommendations for your kids:
Customize based on your child's age
