Benson (Mariska Hargitay) hears from her half-brother (Michael Weston), who is on the run because of sexual assault charges. He continues to claim his innocence, though because evidence continues to pile up against him, Benson reluctantly agrees to help in the investigation.

Detective Munch (Richard Belzer) forms an unlikely close bond with a television news reporter (guest star Jennifer Esposito, "Spin City" ) who was sexually assaulted by two men months earlier but it's Detectives Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Stabler (Christopher Meloni) who stumble into making the first arrest (guest star Jason Field) as the cops try to use their prime suspect as a link to his accomplice. However, their case is jeopardized -- and the list of assailants widens -- when a bomb blast eliminates a vital link to their prosecution and ongoing investigation. Dann Florek and Michelle Hurd also star.

The devastating results of a sexual assault begin to weigh heavily on the victim (guest star Tracy Pollan, "Family Ties") after Detectives Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Stabler's (Christopher Meloni) prime suspect (guest star Terry Serpico) -- who matches the assailant's description and is found to have used her credit card -- cannot be identified by the shaken woman. Benson finally gets a real break in the case six months later but finds the victim to be more defensive and less cooperative. In addition, Benson's romantic interlude with a fellow detective is revealed. Richard Belzer, Dann Florek, Dean Winters and Michelle Hurd also star.

Detectives Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Stabler (Christopher Meloni) search for the killer of a young gay man whose father (guest star Jerry Lanning) heads a conservative watchdog group, but when they suspect a violent ex-convict (guest star Stephen Beach) who lives in the same building, they are in for a shock. In addition, Benson resents Munch's (Richard Belzer) attempts to help her find her father -- a stranger who raped her mother decades ago. Dann Florek, Michelle Hurd and Dean Winters also star.

Detectives Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Stabler (Chris Meloni) aggressively pursue a child molester who kidnapped three young sisters from New Orleans after their parents were killed in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina -- but their efforts to secretly locate the third child are compromised by an ambitious reporter. However, a far greater problem looms as the New York cops butt heads with federal authorities after the suspect is discovered to have deadly anthrax that could result in a full-blown epidemic. Dann Florek, Ice-T, Richard Belzer, Diane Neal, B.D. Wong and Tamara Tunie also star.

TV Guide's Lisa Rinna and Joey Fatone talk to Mariska Hargitay of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

LAW AND ORDER: SVU's Mariska Hargitay takes inspiration from her role as a sex-crime detective with her new institution, the Joyful Heart Foundation. Hollywood 411 has all the details!

LAW AND ORDER: SVU's Mariska Hargitay takes inspiration from her role as a sex-crimes detective with her new institution, the Joyful Heart Foundation. Hollywood 411 has all the details!

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Season 9: Christopher Meloni and Mariska Hargitay talk about being back!