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"Conscience"
SVU, Episode 6.06
Production number: E5208
First aired: 9 November 2004
  th of 502 produced in SVU  
th of 502 released in SVU
  th of 1271 released in all  
Brett Morton
Written By
Robert Nathan & Roger Wolfson

Directed By
David Platt

Summary

A boy brutally murders a neighbor boy. The victim's father recommends leniency, but questions his decision when new facts come to light.

Plot

Five-year-old Henry Morton disappears during a birthday party and all eyes lead to Billy Turner, a registered sex offender. But the case takes a twist when Henry is found murdered and his 13-year-old neighbor, Jake O'Hara, is responsible.

Jake claims that he was abused after being sent to a camp for kids with behavioral problems. SVU detectives go to the camp and find that Jake was never abused, but rather an abuser who would self harm and threaten his victims if they told on him. This evidence reveals that Jake is a sociopath, who has no remorse, no conscience, and killed Henry just because he wanted to. Henry's father, Dr. Brett Morton, is shocked when this information is revealed last-minute in the courtroom. Realizing that Jake would get out of jail at age eighteen and would possibly keep on killing, Morton is overcome with panic and anger, prompting the judge to have him thrown out of the courtroom. When Jake and his mother leave shortly afterward, Jake gives Morton a seemingly-sincere but false apology, and Morton steals a police officer's pistol and shoots Jake with it.

After Jake dies in surgery, Morton is charged with murder. During court, Novak wonders if Morton acted like a grief-stricken father when he shot Jake or he did it because he had previously written a paper detailing that sociopathic children like Jake can't be helped and should be severely punished.

At the end, with the trial over and Morton acquitted, he confides that he was in full control when he shot Jake out of guilt, for he knew that Jake could never be cured of his sociopathy. When asked what distinguishes him from Jake, Morton replies that Jake would have kept killing once he was released, whilst the shrink himself will never kill again.

Cast

Main cast

Recurring Cast

Guest cast

References

Rhinebeck Survival Camp; Adolescent Behavior

Quotes

Stabler: You manipulated us just like Jake did.
Dr. Morton: There's one big difference. Jake would've killed again. I won't.
Cragen: Go away, Wolinsky!
Wolinsky: That's no way to treat a concerned citizen.
Cragen: You gotta stop listening to that police scanner and get a life.
Wolinsky: Just tryin' to pick up the slack for you guys.
Cragen: It's Sunday! Take the day off. Go to church.
Stabler: (about Dr. Morton) The guy is a time bomb. He keeps holding it in, he's gonna explode.
Dr. Huang: You can't grow a conscience.
Donnelly: (to Elliot about Jake O'Hara's death) How could you let this happen?
Stabler: You've got some nerve, lady. That kid was killed because you sent him to Family Court.
Donnelly: I didn't stand there and watch Brett Morton grab a gun.
Stabler: You sure as hell put it in his hand. What, you didn't want to say no to a grieving father? You afraid the press would call you a cold-hearted bitch?
Novak: (to Zierko) What do you want?
Zeirko: Man two, minimum time.
Novak: I have a better idea. Why don't we just throw him a parade?
Zierko: I don't like your tone.
Novak: Yeah, well, I don't like 13-year-olds being shot to death in the courthouse.

Background information and notes

Background information and notes

Episode scene cards

1 2 3 4 5

Apartment of
Jeffrey Jackson
258 West 27th Street
Sunday, October 3

Morton Residence
Riverdale, New York
Sunday, October 3

Apartment of
Billy Turner
52 Avenue B
Sunday, October 3

Crime Lab
One Police Plaza
Monday, October 4

Arraignment
Part 22
Tuesday, October 5

6 7 8 9

Rhinebeck Survival Camp
Rhinebeck, New York
Tuesday, October 5

Family Court
Part 51
Wednesday, October 6

Rikers Island
Interrogation Room
Thursday, October 7

Trial Part 44
Tuesday, November 2

Previous episode:
"Outcry"
"Conscience"
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Season 6
Next episode:
"Charisma"
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