SVU removed the Twin Towers from the intro during Season 3, with the change taking effect in the early-2002 episodes rather than right after 9/11. One source summarizes it as a modification at the start of Season 3, and fan discussion points to the switch happening around the first episodes aired in 2002.

What that means

  • The intro was not changed immediately after the attacks.
  • The version with the towers still appeared in the early Season 3 episodes.
  • The replacement shot came in mid-Season 3, around the episode where the opening sequence was updated.

Why it changed

The edit was part of the broader TV shift after 9/11, when many shows removed World Trade Center imagery out of sensitivity.

Best simple answer

If you want the shortest version: SVU took the Twin Towers out of the intro in Season 3, around early 2002.