Is Carisi Leaving 'SVU'? Yes, But Not the Way You Think

Sonny Carisi From 'Law & Order: SVU' Actually Passed His Bar Exam Years Ago

Feb. 7 2020, Updated 5:58 p.m. ET

Although we nonetheless have Mariska Hargitay's Olivia Benson and Ice-T's Fin Tutuola (thank God for that!), Law & Order: Special Victims Unit enthusiasts have observed numerous adjustments over the past 20 years since the show first aired in 1999.

Olivia's companion Elliot Stabler left the unit, Amanda Rollins had two kids, and even Olivia adopted a child of her own. Not to say the departures of a few regulars, together with ADA Peter Stone and Rob Miller, who we're not terribly sad to see go.

But for now, let's talk about Detective Dominick "Sonny" Carisi, who's been operating with the Special Victims Unit since he was once first introduced in to switch Olivia's then-partner, Detective Amaro. 

Ever since Rafael Barba's days as ADA, Carisi has been operating to pursue his goals of turning into a lawyer. 

But is Sonny Carisi leaving SVU altogether? Keep reading to find out.

According to Fin Tutuola, Carisi is "passing over to the dark side."

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is opening its report 21st season with a bunch of new faces — sort of. While Detective Carisi is seeking to pack his packing containers to sneak out of the Special Victims Unit unperceived, his will-they-won't-they-get-together companion Amanda Rollins whisks him away to a bar the place the entire squad is assembled to bid him farewell.

"Our Sonny Carisi will be bringing his charm and expertise to the DA's Special Victims Unit under Bureau Chief Hadid," Olivia says in a toast. For her phase, Chief Vanessa Hadid replies, "I'm sure the NYPD's loss will be the DA's gain."

But when did Detective Carisi trade his gun and badge and get started "passing over to the dark side," as Fin places it?

As it turns out, Carisi's career shift has been in the works since Season 16. Just a couple of quick episodes after it is published that Carisi shall be an enduring addition to the SVU squad, following Amaro's departure from the unit and transfer to Los Angeles, he mentions that he's been taking night time categories at Fordham University's legislation college.

While it is exhausting to consider he were given any sleep in any respect between his day process at SVU and his night time categories, he turns into a very eager pupil, repeatedly pestering then-ADA Rafa Barba with unsolicited advice on find out how to prosecute cases, which turns into a operating funny story between the two. 

At one level, Barba even lets in Carisi to shadow him for a tribulation, and that is the reason once we first get to look that Carisi in reality has what it takes to turn into a legal professional, as he helps Barba spot an inconsistency in a witness' testimony.

Later, Carisi thanks Barba for trusting him with shadowing him that day and divulges that he had taken the bar exam, which we later be told he passes. But when colleague Sergeant Mike Dodds is abruptly killed via a corrupt corrections officer, Carisi makes a decision to delay his dream of turning into an ADA, and stick with his squad instead.

Although in the Season 21 premiere, he admits he's "nervous" to take on the job of a attorney on the DA's side, we will be able to't wait to look him take down the perpetrators of particularly heinous crimes this yr.

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. on NBC.

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