Post by lateralsmooth on Sept 6, 2009 15:13:37 GMT -5
I'm a big SVU fan, but I haven't seen every episode. I was wondering, has there ever been an episode of SVU that explores the reasons behind statutory rape laws? I've seen episodes that deal with the fairness of other laws, like assisted suicide. In one episode, the defense lawyer basically said that his client actually DID break the law, but the law itself is unjust, and therefore the jury should find the defendant not guilty. An acquittal would set a precedent and send a message that the law needs to be changed.
For exploring statutory rape laws, I would envision the episode going something like this: The SVU meets a 16-year-old girl who is extremely mature, precocious, intelligent, and socially and politically aware. She has already gotten a GED and is in the middle of her first semester at Columbia University, majoring in political science. She plans to eventually go to law school. When she speaks to the detectives, she always wears formal business clothes, showing that she takes the investigation very seriously.
The detectives discover that she's been having a sexual relationship with her 21-year-old boyfriend, who is also a Columbia student and an aspiring lawyer. They want to charge the boyfriend with statutory rape. But he and the girl both feel that he's done nothing wrong.
The guy and the girl have both studied statutory rape laws extensively. The girl reminds the detectives that one of the reasons behind statutory rape laws is that younger people are believed to not understand the implications of sex. She tells the detectives that she DOES understand the implications, like pregnancy and STDs. She explains that she always uses condoms and birth control pills. She tells them that she's monogamous, and she even gets tested for STDs on a regular basis. She says that she also understands the emotional implications of sex, and has discussed things like that with her boyfriend. She is very sexually experienced, having lost her virginity at 13. She has had multiple sexual partners before her current boyfriend, none of which were over 18. The detectives also talk to some of the girl's friends from the university, and they all confirm these facts.
The girl also speaks to the detectives about another reason behind the laws: minors are believed to be more easily manipulated and deceived than adults. But the girl has already taken a few neuropsychological tests, which show that she is not very gullible or prone to being manipulated. During the investigation, Huang gives her some similar tests, with the same results. The girl and the guy make it clear to the detectives that they trust each other and treat each other as equals. Throughout the investigation, the girl is willing to co-operate with the detectives. She's even willing to go to trial and testify.
In the trial, the lawyer tells the jury that the boyfriend DID break the law, but he should be acquitted, because the law is unjust and unfair.
I think this would be a very interesting episode. It would be shocking and controversial, but, as you know, there have already been plenty of shocking and controversial SVU episodes in the past.
For exploring statutory rape laws, I would envision the episode going something like this: The SVU meets a 16-year-old girl who is extremely mature, precocious, intelligent, and socially and politically aware. She has already gotten a GED and is in the middle of her first semester at Columbia University, majoring in political science. She plans to eventually go to law school. When she speaks to the detectives, she always wears formal business clothes, showing that she takes the investigation very seriously.
The detectives discover that she's been having a sexual relationship with her 21-year-old boyfriend, who is also a Columbia student and an aspiring lawyer. They want to charge the boyfriend with statutory rape. But he and the girl both feel that he's done nothing wrong.
The guy and the girl have both studied statutory rape laws extensively. The girl reminds the detectives that one of the reasons behind statutory rape laws is that younger people are believed to not understand the implications of sex. She tells the detectives that she DOES understand the implications, like pregnancy and STDs. She explains that she always uses condoms and birth control pills. She tells them that she's monogamous, and she even gets tested for STDs on a regular basis. She says that she also understands the emotional implications of sex, and has discussed things like that with her boyfriend. She is very sexually experienced, having lost her virginity at 13. She has had multiple sexual partners before her current boyfriend, none of which were over 18. The detectives also talk to some of the girl's friends from the university, and they all confirm these facts.
The girl also speaks to the detectives about another reason behind the laws: minors are believed to be more easily manipulated and deceived than adults. But the girl has already taken a few neuropsychological tests, which show that she is not very gullible or prone to being manipulated. During the investigation, Huang gives her some similar tests, with the same results. The girl and the guy make it clear to the detectives that they trust each other and treat each other as equals. Throughout the investigation, the girl is willing to co-operate with the detectives. She's even willing to go to trial and testify.
In the trial, the lawyer tells the jury that the boyfriend DID break the law, but he should be acquitted, because the law is unjust and unfair.
I think this would be a very interesting episode. It would be shocking and controversial, but, as you know, there have already been plenty of shocking and controversial SVU episodes in the past.