Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Pique - S2-E20

Factual error: In the final scene where Grace Mayberry's house is raided in Trenton, NJ. a New Jersey State Trooper is wearing a badge on his chest. The NJSP has always worn a triangular shaped badge on their hats.

Resilience - S4-E10

Factual error: In the intro scene, a girl attempts to jump under a train at what should be the West 4th Street station. However, the sign "Church Av" is visible behind the actors, revealing that this scene was actually filmed at the Church Av station in Brooklyn. This location is a common spot for filming subway scenes. Moreover, the train that arrives on the platform in this scene is an "N" train, even though the N train does not actually travel to either West 4th Street or Church Av. (00:00:21)

Trade - S9-E18

Factual error: The scene where Pierson Bartlett is on the stand, he pulls a spoon out of his jacket. This would never be allowed. He wouldn't get through the metal detector with any metal that could be used as a weapon. He would either have to take it back to his car, or leave it at the security desk.

RareJewel

Sugar - S11-E2

Factual error: When tracing the "Master Baiter" the detective says she can't trace the subject because "the HTML code is scrambled". There is no such thing as scrambled HTML, and on top of that HTML can never give away any information about a subject's location. Also, she can't get his IP address because it constantly changes. Yet, she does know from what exact wifi-spot he connected. If you get random IP-addresses, for instance by using random proxy servers, you can't pinpoint a location (which was of course why he used this technique).

RoyT

Smut - S10-E10

Factual error: The way that the drug Scopolamine is described is not accurate. It does not render the victim "unable to resist instructions". It can produce "twilight sleep", delirium and euphoria, but does not give anyone complete control over another person as depicted in the episode.

Beast's Obsession - S15-E20

Factual error: When sergeant Benson is in the bathroom alone after it has been declared clear she looks at her phone to see a picture message from Lewis of the little girl he has tied up. She then texts him back saying "where are you" but at the top of the screen it says unknown as if the sender has blocked their number, so it would be physically impossible for sergeant Benson to reply to this message. (00:26:25)

Web - S7-E21

Factual error: When tracking the pedophile's computer his IP number reads something like 3046.23.54.68. In reality, the highest possible IP number is 255.255.255.255 because of the way the numbers are stored on the computer.

PTSD - S10-E9

Factual error: The cast is in the squad-room trying to ascertain the location of the Marine Corp unit. Finn's says there's 2 pilots and a "door gunner" per bird. The Bell AH-1 Cobra is a 2 man lite attack helicopter that has a tandem style seating system in which the Gunner sits in front of and below the pilot. There is no room for a side door let alone a door gunner, as in the picture they use. (00:12:50)

Turmoil - S11-E8

Factual error: When Stabler's son Dickie is trying to join the Army, Dickie's recruiter tells Stabler that he can join at 16 with parental consent. This is incorrect; you have to be at least 17 to join the U.S. Army, even with parental consent. In addition to the fact that you can't join at 16, the consent papers that Dickie bought to Stabler at the end of the episode can't be signed without a recruiter or notary public present and signing the papers at the same time. This is to prevent cases where a parent who had a change of heart can claim they didn't sign and to also prevent 17-year olds from enlisting without consent by forging their parents' signatures.

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Bully - S12-E18

Factual error: The coroner refers to someone having a blood alcohol level of 1.6. No such thing - above 0.5 you're almost certainly dead.

Military Justice - S15-E8

Factual error: The episode took a lot of liberties to further the plot when Amelia Albers was arrested by the Coast Guard in ADA Barba's office. While the story mentioned a real controversial military pamphlet on how victims should respond to a sexual assault, at the time the episode took place, the military was under a massive investigation over sexual assaults in Washington, was being widely criticized for lack of assault victim support, and had a bill being considered in Congress to make it easier for victims to report their attackers. There is no way any military prosecutor would have been given clearance to charge Amelia with adultery or fraternization while the men she was accused of sleeping with were arrested and already on trial for gang-raping her. Doing so would bring a lot of unwanted bad press and a possible congressional investigation on the Coast Guard that would almost certainly want to know why they are attempting to cover up a rape by charging the victim instead, especially when the rape victim was an admiral's daughter.

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Wrath - S3-E2

Continuity mistake: Benson visits Stabler at his home to confronts him about the FBI detail he has ordered to protect her. They talk outside and then Benson is seen walking away. The next shot shows a side shot of Benson approaching him again in silence but mouthing words to him. (00:49:00)

More mistakes in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Uncle - S8-E4

Elliot Stabler: Just so you know, everybody loses it their first kid case.
Dani Beck: I'll get used to it.
Elliot Stabler: Well... When that happens, transfer out.

Cubs Fan

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Trivia: Rafael Barba is the show's first regular ADA since Alex Cabot's departure, and the show's first male ADA.

Cubs Fan

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Spousal Privilege - S16-E8

Question: Why was A.J. only charged with reckless endangerment? The video showed him punching Paula in the back when she's climbing the stairwell, getting punched in the face by A.J. and then being dragged away unconscious. Shouldn't he have been charged with either aggravated assault or assault and battery instead considering how violent he was?

Answer: I didn't see the show so I don't know the details. A general answer would be because a reckless endangerment charge is easier to prove "beyond a Reasonable Doubt" in court and get a conviction. This charge would not require the prosecutor to prove intent, which would be required for proving aggravated or simple assault. Also, if there were no visible injuries, it is difficult to show bodily injury. Just because the reckless endangerment charge was specifically mentioned, it does not necessarily mean there were not other charges filed. Police often make multiple charges, like lesser-included offenses, so that the defendant's act will fall under one of them if the legal requirements are not met for the others, if they are not sure of the best charge to make (the district attorney knows and can decide), or to have something to plea bargain with.

KeyZOid

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