Exclusive Law & Order: SVU Sneak Peek: Jack McCoy Is Back!

Jack McCoy (Sam Waterston) is headed back to Law & Order: SVU and TV Guide has a special look at his anticipated appearance.

In this exclusive clip, the former Law & Order district attorney provides some much-needed advice to Rafael Barba (Raul Esparza) who finds himself in a bit of a crisis after overstepping his boundaries on a case. Ruminating over his father's death (in which he refused to take him off life support seven years prior), Barba is concerned about prosecuting someone in a similar situation. "It's a shame. No matter how hard we try, we can't legislate morality," Barba says.

But McCoy counters with a dose of reality: "We're not in the compassion business, Rafael."

Law & Order: SVU: McCoy Is Back in This First Look Photo!

The episode will see Barba end up on the wrong side of the law prompting Chicago Justice's Peter Stone (Philip Winchester) to be called in to prosecute him. Peter also happens to be the son of Ben Stone (Michael Moriarty), the ASA on the first four seasons of Law & Order who was then succeeded by McCoy. It's likely not a coincidence that both McCoy and Peter will be appearing in Wednesday's episode, so expect that connection to likely play a role in the complicated events.

Law & Order: SVU airs Wednesdays at 9/8c on NBC.