Martin) and Black Lt. Anita Van Buren (S. Epatha Merkerson), alongside white male leads, which was consistent with the series since the mid-1990s and feels organic rather than forced DEI.

No casting controversies, race/gender-swaps, or changes for diversity quotas. Episodes follow the ripped-from-the-headlines format, with some touching on social issues like post-9/11 Muslim radicalization ('American Jihad'), racial tensions in policing ('Suicide Box'), white supremacists ('Open Season'), death penalty debates ('Tragedy on Rye'), and religious cults ('The Wheel'), but these are incidental case-of-the-week stories presented with balance—pro-prosecution often prevails, and the new conservative DA Arthur Branch (Fred Thompson) shifts toward tougher stances post-9/11. No overt lectures, identity politics as focal points, or critiques of systemic patriarchy/capitalism; storytelling prioritizes procedural entertainment.

Creator Dick Wolf emphasized realism without activist intent. No contemporary or retrospective backlash labeling it 'woke'; modern criticisms target reboots/SVU, not this era.