Law and Order: SVU is going into its sixteenth season, but according to star Mariska Hargitay, who plays Olivia Benson, the show is more relevant than ever.

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According to E! News Wednesday, Hargitay said, "More relevant than ever in a way, and that's the thing," about the hit NBC show. Because of the serious nature of the drama, showrunner Warren Leight added, "It would've been nice to be put out of business 10 years ago, before I got here."

"It would've," Hargitay also said.

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Leight talked about how domestic violence is something that keeps coming up lately in the media and that SVU can handle on the show. "I think people look to our show to see how it should be handled," he said.

"That's the thing about the show-shedding light on darkness. It's never been more true than now. It's never been more relevant in this way. I think, as I said, society is in a different place," Hargitay said. She also added "the way people are talking about it" and how rape is being covered (which is a topic SVU covers a lot). "All these things are happening on college campuses. It's a travesty, and yet people are finally taking note to go, 'Hey! Wake up.'"

Law and Order SVU returns Wednesday, September 24 at 9 p.m. ET on NBC.

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