Martin as Detective Ed Green and S. Epatha Merkerson as Lt.

Anita Van Buren, alongside white leads Jerry Orbach, Dianne Wiest, Sam Waterston, and Angie Harmon; this diversity was organic to the late-1990s/early-2000s era and not presented as a focal point or justified by identity politics. Episodes occasionally tackle contemporary social issues ripped from headlines, such as racial tensions in a Black Panther-inspired police killing trial (Burn Baby Burn), homophobia in a gay man's beating death (Phobia), mental health system failures (Turnstile Justice), and ethnic violence at a parade (Sunday in the Park with Jorge, which controversially offended Puerto Rican groups for its portrayal rather than progressive slant).

These elements appear as incidental case drivers within pro-law-and-order narratives, without lecture moments, systemic critiques dominating plots, unjustified character swaps, or creator-stated activist goals from Dick Wolf, who emphasized apolitical storytelling. No significant audience backlash labels it woke, and modern criticisms target reboots/SVU instead, indicating minimal progressive ideological influence beyond era-appropriate incidental diversity and headline topics.