Special Victims Unit

From The Law & Order Wiki

The Special Victims Unit (SVU) is a division within the New York City Police Department.

The Detectives in this division investigate crimes involving sexual assault, the very young, or the very elderly, as well as any crime loosely connected with any of the three. The unit also deals with murder, abduction, robbery and child pornography cases. The unit is housed in several different boroughs.

[edit] Manhattan SVU

The unit is located within the 16th Precinct in Manhattan, New York City. Manhattan SVU is the division that is featured in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

[edit] Detectives

• Elliot Stabler
• Olivia Benson
• John Munch
• Odafin Tutuola

• Chester Lake
• Dani Beck
• Monique Jeffries
• Brian Cassidy
• Ken Briscoe

[edit] Commanding officers

• Captain Donald Cragen
• Sergeant John Munch (temporarily)

In early episodes the Special Victims Unit was often depicted as the "Sex Crimes division", or "Manhattan SVU".

[edit] Brooklyn SVU

The unit is located in Brooklyn.

Detective Chester Lake is a transfer from Brooklyn SVU.

[edit] Queens SVU

The unit is located in Queens.

[edit] The real Special Victims Unit

The NYPD does have a real unit that investigates sex crimes which, same as depicted in the show, is housed in separate Borough Patrols, (i.e. Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens). In addition to the different name, the real Special Victims Squad only investigates the following types of cases:

• Any child under 13 years of age who is the victim of any sex crime or attempted sex crime.
• Any child under 11 years of age who is the victim of abuse by a parent or person legally responsible for the care of the child.
• Any victim of rape (all degrees) or attempted rape (all degrees)
• Any victim of Criminal Sexual Act (all degrees) or Attempted Criminal Sexual Act (all degrees)
• Victims of Aggravated Sexual Abuse (all degrees)
• Victims of Sexual Abuse 1st Degree

The Special Victims Squad does not investigate any murder, robbery or child pornography cases. Murders and robberies are investigated by precinct detective squads. If a sex crime is involved, the Special Victims Squad may assist in the investigation. Child pornography is investigated by the NYPD Vice Enforcement Sexual Exploitation of Children Unit.