Law & Order: Special Victims Unit · Crimes

Prostitution & Sex Work 11 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episodes

Sex workers as victims, witnesses and suspects, and the people who profit from their work.

Season 1 · Episode 4
Hysteria

Aired October 11, 1999 · Serial murder / murder

The murder of a college student dressed for a night out is folded into a string of attacks on prostitutes, until the detectives catch a serial killer who insists she was not his victim.
Season 11 · Episode 19
Conned

Aired April 7, 2010 · Homicide / statutory rape

A teenage hustler dies at a wedding carrying a runaway’s ID, and the runaway’s story exposes the psychiatrist who has controlled him for years.
Season 13 · Episode 15
Hunting Ground

Aired February 22, 2012 · Serial murder / kidnapping

The disappearance of a 16-year-old escort leads SVU to a beach full of bodies and a game keeper who hunts women for sport, while Benson and Haden begin dating.
Season 13 · Episode 23
Rhodium Nights

Aired May 23, 2012 · Homicide / prostitution

The death of an underage escort at the police commissioner’s son’s bachelor party draws SVU into a war between two escort bosses with powerful clients.
Season 14 · Episode 1
Lost Reputation

Aired September 26, 2012 · Murder

Captain Cragen wakes beside a murdered escort and is charged with killing her, while an outside prosecutor and an interim captain order SVU to stay away from the case.
Season 14 · Episode 9
Dreams Deferred

Aired December 5, 2012 · Spree killing

When a gunman goes on a killing spree, the squad turns to the aging prostitute he has visited for 25 years and tries to pull her off the street once he is stopped.
Season 17 · Episode 6
Maternal Instincts

Aired October 21, 2015 · Rape

A celebrated flautist accused of rape blames an escort he says drugged him, and Rollins recognizes the escort as her fugitive sister.
Season 18 · Episode 4
Heightened Emotions

Aired October 12, 2016 · Rape

An Olympic-hopeful pole vaulter who secretly works as an escort accuses a client of rape, while Rollins takes in her newly paroled sister.
Season 19 · Episode 18
Service

Aired April 11, 2018 · Rape and assault

A sex worker is raped and beaten by one of three soldiers who hired her, and the only witness willing to testify fears that doing so will end his military career.
Season 24 · Episode 12
Blood Out

Aired January 26, 2023 · Gang rape, murder of a police officer and serial rape

As the BX9 leader’s trial loses its witnesses one by one, the gang turns its violence on the captain who hunted it.
Season 26 · Episode 7
Tenfold

Aired November 14, 2024 · Rape of a sex worker

Fin and Bruno hunt the man who choked and raped Wallen Sipes, a sex worker who distrusts police, while Carisi asks Benson to help him check out a substitute teacher.

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