Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

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Question: Why does Oliver Gates come up with ridiculous reasons for the people he defends whenever they commit murder? In the episode "Hate", Sean Webster was killing Muslims and Oliver claims that his hatred was genetic but, it was found out that Sean had been raised to hate Muslims after his dad left his mom and married a muslim. In the episode "Game" a guy is murdering people the exact same way that's done in a video game when it's clear the suspect is using the video game as a scapegoat for his crimes.

Answer: His clients are guilty and won't take a plea. He's using desperate defenses in hopes of swaying a juror or two. Also makes for better television. "Temporary insanity" isn't nearly as compelling as "the video games made me do it."

Brian Katcher

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Question: This is a two-part question. 1. In one episode, the SVU team must get a man to confess to committing several murders and if they can't after 24 hours, they have no choice but to let him go. What is the name of this episode? 2. During the interrogation, the man gets up in Detective Stablers face and screams, "I'm a murderer! I'm a murderer! I kill people! What are you gonna do about that?" That sounded like a Confession to me, so why wasn't he immediately arrested?

Answer: 1- It's probably "Rage" from season 6, though there are several similar episodes. 2 - I could go to the police and say I'm a murderer, but without details, it's not really any use. They knew he was just playing with them and wanted to taunt Stabler.

LorgSkyegon

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Question: In a mistrial, most DA's have to decide if it is a do over. But in this show they have some dismissals in the mist of a trial and they can't be retried because of double jeopardy. Is this really a fact?

Imemine

Answer: It would best to cite a specific episode; however, a dismissal is not the same thing as a mistrial by legal definitions. A case may be dismissed with or without prejudice. A case dismissed with prejudice would prevent a retrial on the grounds of double jeopardy. When this happens, the judge is basically saying he or she has heard enough to make a final decision and the case is over. Dismissals without prejudice and mistrials that the defendant consents to can be retried (generally it's the defendant's lawyer that will move for a mistrial for one reason or another).

Bishop73

Answer: Yes, once a jury is sworn in and impaneled, jeopardy attaches. So if a trial is ended for any reason, the accused cannot be tried again. Downum v. United States (1963), Crist v. Bretz (1978), Martinez v. Ilinois (2014).

LorgSkyegon

A mistrial can allow the defendant to be re-tried in many cases.

Bishop73

A mistrial is not a dismissal. Since the jury has not reached a verdict, the trial has not ended.

LorgSkyegon

Which is literally what I already said. But you stated if the trial is ended for any reason. A mistrial does end the trial, but not necessarily end jeopardy.

Bishop73

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Question: Why did they let Benson adopt? Given she's single and has a dangerous job wouldn't this be carefully scrutinized? After all, she could end up dead, thus the boy goes back into the system.

Rob245

Answer: As this particular adoption case the judge presiding over it personally knew Olivia; that can make all the difference in the process as most adoptions are presided by judges who do not know the person and are going solely off how they look on paper as to whether or not it can be approved. This was likely the case of when Olivia mentioned she had previously been turned down for adoption. With Noah not being a healthy infant, the judge would not want to be too picky with who can adopt him as unhealthy infants have a high risk of never being adopted. With the judge personally knowing Olivia, that would help seal her confidence that even in the event of Olivia's death Olivia would have already made sure it would be pre-arranged for Noah to be cared for rather than put back in the system.

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Question: Does anybody know if they're using only New York law in the show? In California and many other states you can talk to a minor without his parents.

Answer: While it isn't technically illegal to talk to a child without his parents (or a lawyer), doing it stands a good chance of getting anything learned from the conversation inadmissible due to the possibility of undue influence. So most police agencies don't do it.

LorgSkyegon

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Question: Has anybody noticed that many of the perps or victims at some point become policemen, DAs or detectives? They also rotate actors if you notice in season 15 episode 1 Surrender Benson, the serial rapist William Lewis is also the stepfather in season 8 episode 15 Haystack. Throughout the 21 seasons you can see the same actors taking on different roles acting in a child as one and then when they grow up seeing them as a grown up in another season and many becoming detectives or some sort of law enforcement.

Imemine

Answer: Was there a specific question other than have we noticed? This is very common in the Law and Order franchise, as well as many other long running dramas that use multiple actors. The late, great Jerry Orbach from the original series started out as a defense attorney.

Bishop73

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit mistake picture

Scourge - S2-E21

Visible crew/equipment: While Benson and Stabler apprehend their suspect in a church, at least one crew member appears on the right side of the frame for about 5 seconds where no one should be. (00:25:45)

commorancy

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

More quotes from Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Scavenger - S6-E4

Trivia: As the detectives are trying to find out from Doug Hutchinson's character where the victim is being held, the detectives find out he is somewhat claustrophobic. They decide to scare him and put him in a cupboard without any light. This is very similar to Doug Hutchinson's character in The Green Mile. The main characters decide to punish him and force him into a dark and small room.

Lummie

More trivia for Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

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