Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (season 3)

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 3
DVD cover art
Country of origin	United States
No. of episodes	23
Broadcast
Original channel	NBC
Original run	September 28, 2001 (2001-09-28) – May 17, 2002 (2002-05-17)
Home video release
DVD release
Region 1	January 30, 2007
Region 2	July 23, 2007
Region 4	August 1, 2007
Season chronology
← Previous Season 2 Next → Season 4
List of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episodes

The 3rd season of the television series, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit premiered Friday, September 28, 2001 and ended Friday, May 17, 2002 on NBC.

In the aftermath of 9/11, the main title voiceover by Steven Zirnkilton was changed for the first few episodes to include the following dedication: "On September 11, 2001, New York City was ruthlessly and criminally attacked. While no tribute can ever heal the pain of that day, the producers of Law & Order dedicate this season to the victims & their families and to the firefighters & police officers who remind us every day with their lives & courage what it truly means to be an American". Syndicated airings of the episodes replaced this dialogue with the original title voiceover. The opening sequence changed as well; NBC ordered the opening credits for the third season reedited to remove images of the World Trade Center, which were seen at the begining and ending of the opening titles; the credit sequence in the previous two seasons were not subsequently changed.

All second season cast members returned for the third season of the series. Diane Neal, who played a rapist named Amelia Chase in the episode "Ridicule", would later on replace ADA Alexandra Cabot (Stephanie March) as ADA Casey Novak in the fifth season. Mike Doyle portrayed Assistant Medical Examiner Karlan in the episode "Prodigy" before portraying CSU Forensics Technician Ryan O'Halloran in the fourth season. Robert John Burke began playing NYPD Internal Affairs Sargeant Ed Tucker in the episode "Counterfeit", he comes in when the Special Victims Unit is believed to be acting out of misconduct. Nick Chinlund guest starred as serial killer Matthew Brodus, who is scheduled to be executed in the episode "Execution". Chinlund was originally offered to portray the role of Detective Elliot Stabler, which was later given to Christopher Meloni. David J. Burke departed as executive producer/show runner partnered with Neal Baer close to the end of the second season, Baer the sole show runner/executive producer of the series.

Cast

• Christopher Meloni as Det. Elliot Stabler
• Mariska Hargitay as Det. Olivia Benson
• Richard Belzer as Det. John Munch
• Ice-T as Det. Fin Tutuola
• Stephanie March as ADA Alexandra Cabot
• Dann Florek as Capt. Don Cragen

Recurring cast

• Tamara Tunie as M.E. Dr. Melinda Warner
• B.D. Wong as Dr. George Huang
• Isabel Gillies as Kathy Stabler
• Robert John Burke as IAB Sargeant Ed Tucker

Episodes

Season no.	Series no.	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date	Prod. code	U.S. Viewers (millions)
1	44	"Repression"	Henry J. Bronchtein	Marilyn Osborn	September 28, 2001 (2001-09-28)	E2310	N/A
When a therapist (Shirley Knight) helps 18-year-old Megan Ramsey (Kelly Hutchinson) recall her childhood molestation by her father (Brian Kerwin), she reports the incest to detectives Benson and Stabler hoping it would spare her younger sisters from suffering the same fate. At first her mother (Amy Irving) does not believe her, but eventually her entire family turns on the father ignoring his protests that are assisted by the discovery of tainted evidence. The whole fragile family later becomes a suspect when the father is murdered. Eventually it is proven Megan is a virgin and the rape was a false memory planted by her therapist. Megan's younger sister, Jodi, confesses to accidentally killing her father and the police arrest the therapist and charge her with reckless endangerment.
2	45	"Wrath"	Jean de Segonzac	Judith McCreary	October 5, 2001 (2001-10-05)	E2314	15.04
Three unrelated people, who are connected to Detective Benson's past cases, are found ritualistically murdered. The evidences point out to Benson as the real target. Though feeling guilty over the murders and warned by the FBI about the danger she is facing, she still tries to find the murderer. The list of suspects who may want to avenge her seems endless. But eventually an innocent man is found who may hold the answer to the horrific murders. Justin Kirk guest stars.
3	46	"Stolen"	James Quinn	Robert F. Campbell & Jonathan Greene	October 12, 2001 (2001-10-12)	E2315	N/A
When a baby is abducted from her mother in a grocery store, Detectives Benson and Stabler are led to Mark Sanford (Bruce Altman), a private adoption lawyer with dubious business practices. The investigation of the adoption service opens up a twelve-year old case originally handled by Sgt. Max Greevey, involving the missing chíld of a murdered woman. Captain Cragen teams up with Munch to solve the case. Celia Weston guest stars.
4	47	"Rooftop"	Steve Shill	Teleplay: Robert F. Campbell & Jonathan Greene Story: Neal Baer, Robert F. Campbell, & Jonathan Greene	October 19, 2001 (2001-10-19)	E2318	15.44
A series of rapes, each more violent than the previous, takes place in a community of African-Americans. Detectives Benson and Stabler promptly suspect a known sex offender who was just recently released from jail. As they find nothing, Detective Tutuola takes it personally as his childhood friends' daughter is attacked and killed, and her brother Rodney Thompson (Todd Williams) accuses the police of limiting the budget put on this case. Only when a fifth victim is killed, her final moments alongside Thompson's persistence give them what they need to find the killer.
5	48	"Tangled"	Jean de Segonzac	Dawn DeNoon & Lisa Marie Petersen	October 26, 2001 (2001-10-26)	E2312	N/A
A known doctor is killed and his wife (Lisa Eichhorn) is raped. Detectives Benson and Stabler question the doctor's estranged and troubled son from the doctor's previous marriage. They also locate a former patient who holds a grudge against the doctor. When the rapist then attacks the doctor's former mistress (Liza Weil), they realize both the wife and mistress know more than it seems.
6	49	"Redemption"	Ted Kotcheff	Jeff Eckerle	November 2, 2001 (2001-11-02)	E2319	14.58
Detective Stabler is paired with John "Hawk" Hawkins (David Keith), an unstable, "cowboy" cop. They try to catch a serial rapist and murderer. Their suspect is a recently released prisoner, who was put in jail years ago due to Hawk. Alas, they come to deduce that not only is the predator someone else, but that the former prisoner is innocent of the previous murders, which means Hawk was responsible for putting an innocent man behind bars.
7	50	"Sacrifice"	Lesli Linka Glatter	Teleplay: Samantha Howard Corbin & Javier Grillo-Marxuach Story: Javier Grillo-Marxuach	November 9, 2001 (2001-11-09)	E2309	16.20
An unidentified man (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) is found shot and sexually assaulted in an alley outside of a gay bar. Detectives Benson and Stabler try to come up with possible motives and suspects. They learn the victim came from a small town in Arkansas. They then enter deeply inside the porn industry, only to realize the motive was more uncommon than what they thought: acting in porn films pays for the couple's dying daughter's mounting medical bills. The lead witness (Kevin Geer), who is a recovering drug addict, angers Fin who then has to re-think his police role. Elizabeth Banks guest stars.
8	51	"Inheritance"	Juan J. Campanella	Teleplay: Tara Butters, Kathy Ebel, & Michele Fazekas Story: Kathy Ebel	November 16, 2001 (2001-11-16)	E2311	14.50
A young Asian woman is severely beaten and raped at a burglary site. Benson and Stabler initially suspect rival Asian gang members, who are in dispute over the victim's loyalty. The theory is disproved when another Asian victim is found, which leads to a serial rapist (Marcus Chong) whose father may have committed similar crimes in his own past. The trial focuses on the impact of genetic predisposition versus environmental upbringing on the nature of violence.
9	52	"Care"	Gloria Muzio	Dawn DeNoon & Lisa Marie Petersen	November 23, 2001 (2001-11-23)	E2317	14.86
A five-year-old girl is found severely beaten in foster care. Detectives Benson and Stabler investigate her complicated family ties. They learn the girl's birth mother always tried to get back her daughter from the foster mother (Kathleen Wilhoite) and grandmother (Piper Laurie), who was responsible for the girl before she died. They then investigate her foster brother. Captain Cragen manages to reach him with the help of a video game.
10	53	"Ridicule"	Constantine Makris	Judith McCreary	December 14, 2001 (2001-12-14)	E2316	15.33
A young wife's body is found after what seems to be an erotic asphyxiation accident. Detectives Benson and Stabler follow her link to a male stripper (Pete Starrett). He reveals their link was that he was recently gang raped by her and her two female lawyer friends, Amelia Chase (Diane Neal) and Pam Adler (Paige Turco) after the three women handcuffed him to a bed during a bachelorette party. ADA Cabot follows People v. Liberta (1984) and sues the women for this non statutory female on male rape. The investigation of one of the women, Pam Adler, then reveals the suicide was in fact a murder, as the victim planned to come clean and expose her fellow rapists. Diane Neal, who played one of the rapists (Amelia Chase) would later on replace ADA Alexandra Cabot as ADA Casey Novak in Season 5. Special appearance by Dianne Wiest as DA Nora Lewin
11	54	"Monogamy"	Constantine Makris	Tara Butters & Michele Fazekas	January 4, 2002 (2002-01-04)	E2323	17.71
A pregnant woman is attacked and has her fetus ripped from her womb. Detectives Benson and Stabler quickly look for the baby hoping he's still alive. The woman's husband (John Ritter) seems shocked, but it is soon discovered she may have had an affair with a construction worker (Bobby Cannavale). The resulting trial has ADA Alex Cabot trying to argue that the fetus had a right to live without treading into the controversial territory of reproductive rights. Peter Hermann guest stars.
12	55	"Protection"	Alex Zakrzewski	Robert F. Campbell & Jonathan Greene	January 11, 2002 (2002-01-11)	E2327	N/A
A six year-old boy is abandoned by his mother (Elpidia Carrillo) in an emergency room after having been shot. Detectives Benson and Stabler look for his missing family members in order to find his shooter, while Munch attempts to get through to the boy. Eventually, it becomes clear that the whole family is in danger.
13	56	"Prodigy"	Steve Shill	Dawn DeNoon & Lisa Marie Petersen	January 18, 2002 (2002-01-18)	E2326	16.03
A man and a woman are stabbed during a supposedly romantic park encounter. The woman's head as well as her hands are missing, which makes it difficult for detectives Benson and Stabler to identify the victims. They soon learn the crime scene was staged and that the woman was an officer of the Manhattan Federation for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. This leads them to various people from her organization, as well as its opposers, and a young sociopath (Michael Pitt) who had a troubled relationship with the woman.
14	57	"Counterfeit"	Arthur W. Forney	Amanda Green	January 25, 2002 (2002-01-25)	E2313	16.76
A woman's body is found near her car after she was raped. With Munch on crutches, Tutuola is paired with Benson to investigate what the motive was, as well as why was her car's trunk full of forged drugs. When another woman, Francesca Jesner (Khrystyne Haje), is raped, she claims the rapist was a cop (Michael O'Keefe) who captured her by using a routine traffic stop. Their need to catch the cop is even greater as Jesner is captured again by the rapist.
15	58	"Execution"	Alex Zakrzewski	Judith McCreary	February 1, 2002 (2002-02-01)	E2325	17.05
In three days, serial killer Matthew Brodus (Nick Chinlund) is to be executed at the New Jersey State Prison. Detective Stabler and Dr. Huang race against time to figure out if he also killed and raped another woman, the confirmation of which will provide closure for her father (William Hill) and mother (Laura Hughes). ^Nick Chinlund was originally up for the part of Elliot Stabler that went to Christopher Meloni.
16	59	"Popular"	Jean de Segonzac	Teleplay:Stephen Belber Story: Stephen Belber & Kathy Ebel	March 1, 2002 (2002-03-01)	E2329	N/A
Detective Stabler's wife (Isabel Gillies) tells him that her nurse friend (Laura Duncan) at a local hospital treated a 14-year-old rape victim (Brittany Slattery), who refused to report the crime to the police or her family. Stabler decides to investigate her unofficially with the help of Detective Benson. They find out she and her classmates were involved with drugs and alcohol, a fact which troubles her family.
17	60	"Surveillance"	Steve Shill	Jeff Eckerle	March 8, 2002 (2002-03-08)	E2328	N/A
A young cellist, Cassie Germaine (Emily Deschanel) is attacked in her apartment. Detectives Benson and Stabler investigate her orchestra conductor, Robert Prescott (Michael Nader). They learn he was involved with amateur erotic filmmaking, and that her apartment is surrounded with hidden cameras installed by a stalker.
18	61	"Guilt"	David Platt	Tara Butters & Michele Fazekas	March 29, 2002 (2002-03-29)	E2332	N/A
ADA Cabot faces a reluctant witness (Bret Harrison) in a case of child molestation. She goes far beyond the line of duty to find evidence against the abuser (Beau Gravitte). She even sends detectives Benson and Stabler to illegally search the boy's home and almost ruins the case and all of their careers. Lee Pace guest stars.
19	62	"Justice"	Juan J. Campanella	Dawn DeNoon & Lisa Marie Petersen	April 5, 2002 (2002-04-05)	E2331	N/A
The stepdaughter of a judge (Keir Dullea) is raped and killed. The judge is known for throwing hard sentences on sex offenders. However, his stepdaughter also had a troubled past that involved relationships both with her father's court's sex offenders and within her own family.
20	63	"Greed"	Constantine Makris	Robert F. Campbell & Jonathan Greene	April 26, 2002 (2002-04-26)	E2330	14.22
The wife (Mary Beth Hurt) of a business man (Henry Winkler) is found raped and bludgeoned on their kitchen floor. With Munch on jury duty, Fin is paired with Cragen while Benson and Stabler head the investigation. Uncovering similarities with a previous attack, the detectives first suspect a serial rapist. Soon, however, the evidence leads to an elaborate and sinister plot.
21	64	"Denial"	Steve Shill	Judith McCreary	May 3, 2002 (2002-05-03)	E2334	N/A
A drug addict (Martha Plimpton) is sexually assaulted. In her purse, detectives Benson and Stabler find a decomposing baby's finger. When looking for both her attacker and the baby, they suspect she might be withholding information to protect her mother (Mary Steenburgen) or grandmother (Estelle Parsons). Tutuola tries to help by getting her clean.
22	65	"Competence"	Jud Taylor	Teleplay: Robert F. Campbell & Jonathan Greene Story: Jeff Eckerle, Robert F. Campbell, & Jonathan Greene	May 10, 2002 (2002-05-10)	E2335	N/A
Rebecca Tolliver (Lois Smith) reports her 22-year-old daughter with Down Syndrome (Andrea Fay Friedman) is pregnant after being raped by her boyfriend (James Badge Dale). Detectives Benson and Stabler have to make sure it's not just her mother being overprotective and in denial of her daughter's sex life. They learn even more people could have used her innocence about sex to abuse her. ADA Cabot then has to interfere and take on her superior, to settle the mother–daughter dispute on whether the daughter should have an abortion or not.
23	66	"Silence"	Steve Shill	Patrick Harbinson	May 17, 2002 (2002-05-17)	E3103	14.27
A murder takes place in a church. Detectives Benson and Stabler learn that the murderer (Sean Dugan) had been paid off by the church to stop him from reporting how he was sexually abused by a priest as a child. He blames the church for taking away his innocence and accuses a priest from his youth, Father Michael (Eric Stoltz) of molesting him.

References

• Episode Guide at TV.com

External links

• Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 3 - TV IV
• Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 3 on the Law & Order wiki
• Season 3 episodes at IMDb.com

Preceded by Season 2

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit list of seasons

Succeeded by Season 4