Who is the best Law & Order SVU character of all time?

From the precinct's steadiest veterans to the courtroom sharpshooters and the quieter recurring faces fans still swear by, this lineup spans three decades of partners, rivals, and unforgettable interrogations. Who earns your vote?

1

Olivia Benson

The captain and longest-running lead protagonist, serving as the emotional heart of the SVU squad.

1000pts

2

Elliot Stabler

The intense original male lead detective whose partnership with Benson defined the show's early seasons.

680pts

3

Ed Tucker

An Internal Affairs captain whose tense rivalry-turned-romance with Benson made him a memorable recurring figure.

494pts

4

John Munch

A sardonic, conspiracy-loving detective who crossed over from Homicide: Life on the Street.

428pts

5

Nick Amaro

A hot-headed detective who joined the squad after Stabler's departure.

428pts

6

George Huang

An FBI psychiatric profiler who consulted on the unit's most disturbing cases.

428pts

7

Kat Tamin

A bisexual detective who brought a fresh, modern dynamic to the squad in later seasons.

428pts

8

Emil Skoda

A recurring forensic psychiatrist known for his blunt, incisive criminal profiling.

350pts

9

Rafael Barba

A sharp-tongued, morally complex assistant district attorney who became a fan-favorite prosecutor.

350pts

10

Casey Novak

A tenacious assistant district attorney known for her fierce courtroom advocacy for victims.

257pts

11

Alexandra Cabot

A wealthy, no-nonsense ADA who survived an assassination attempt and later became a judge.

257pts

12

Amanda Rollins

A Georgia-born detective wrestling with a gambling addiction and a troubled family history.

257pts

13

Sonny Carisi

A detective-turned-ADA whose Staten Island charm masks a sharp legal mind.

257pts

14

Melinda Warner

The unit's trusted, long-serving medical examiner who processes the squad's grimmest evidence.

257pts

15

Fin Tutuola

A street-smart, no-nonsense detective and one of the longest-serving members of the squad.

143pts

16

Don Cragen

The SVU squad's steady, principled commanding officer for over a decade.

143pts