History Recap / LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnitS17E4InstitutionalFail

* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Manuela's literal reaction to having let Keisha die, after detoxing while in the hospital following her arrest (at which time she was found high as a kite and panhandling).

* WhoopiEpiphanySpeech: Guest star Creator/WhoopiGoldberg tries to deliver a rousing one about how overworked she is and how she and every other worker is asked to do an impossible amount of work only to be scapegoated by when they can't pull it off instead of fixing the wider issue, Subverted by the fact that she has knowingly neglected actually caring for children in favor of paperwork and self-advancement, meaning that despite the message being an important one, the speech rings hollow with both the characters and the audience, as it comes across as [[NeverMyFault excuse-making]].

* FreudianExcuseIsNoExcuse: when facing the detectives' hostility for her assertion that her kids need to earn the right to eat, Manuela explains that she was beaten with an electrical cable as a child and asks whether they'd like her to go back to that manner of child discipline. This does not go down well with the detectives.

* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: the normally unflappable Barba begins to lose control emotionally as he cross-examines Whoopi's character regarding the really horrible child abuse cases she swept under the rug.
* PoliticallyIncorrectHero: while initially [[RefusalOfTheCall refusing to investigate]] child services Barba snarks to Benson and a heavily pregnant Rollins that they are getting "emotional" and he needs more than "mother's instinct" to proceed with a criminal case. Benson and Rollins glare at him silently for a beat before the camera cuts away for the next scene.

* AbusiveParents: Manuela Ozuna and her husband kept nine year old Keisha beaten, starved, and locked in a dog cage to keep her from crying.

* TheMole: After Benson conspires with Barba to dig into the city's complicity in the neglect case, to OnePP's dismay, Dodds foists a new detective on the squad to keep it in line: his son.

* WhoopiEpiphanySpeech: Guest star Creator/WhoopiGoldberg tries to deliver a rousing one about how overworked she is and how she and every other worker is asked to do an impossible amount of work only to be scapegoated by when they can't pull it off instead of fixing the wider issue, Subverted by the fact that she has knowingly neglected actually caring for children in favor of paperwork and self-advancement, meaning that despite the message being an important one, the speech rings hollow with both the characters and the audience, as it seems to be little more than a NeverMyFault.

* WhoopiEpiphanySpeech: Guest star Creator/WhoopiGoldberg tries to deliver a rousing one about how overworked she is and how she and every other worker is asked to do an impossible amount of work only to be scapegoated by when they can't pull it off instead of fixing the wider issue, Subverted by the fact that she has knowingly neglected actually caring for children in favor of paperwork and self-advancement. Despite the message being an important one, the speech rings hollow with both the characters and the audience as a result.

When a child is found wandering the streets alone, Benson and SVU search for the neglectful mother, only to find another child in danger in the same home. After Benson questions the social worker (Creator/JohnMagaro), they discovered he has not visited the family's home in months, leading Benson to push Barba to prosecute the social worker's supervisor (Creator/WhoopiGoldberg) for falsifying records. When one child dies, Benson and Barba intensify their case against social services, which is met with resistance by Deputy Chief Dodds and 1PP. Meanwhile, Dodds announces Benson's promotion to lieutenant and his choice for her new sergeant-his son Mike.

* WhoopiEpiphanySpeech: Guest star Creator/WhoopiGoldberg tries to deliver a rousing one, Subverted by the fact that she has knowingly neglected actually caring for children in favor of paperwork and self advancement. Despite the message being an important one, the speech rings hollow with both the characters and the audience as a result.

* WhoopiEpiphanySpeech: Guest star Whoopi Goldberg tries to deliver a rousing one, Subverted by the fact that she has knowingly neglected actually caring for children in favor of paperwork and self advancement. Despite the message being an important one, the speech rings hollow with both the characters and the audience as a result.

* AbusiveParents: Manuela Ozuna and her husband kept nine year old Keisha beaten, starved, and locked in a dog cage to keep her from crying.

A starving toddler found wandering the streets alone leads detectives to the home of Manuela Ozuna and another child in grave condition. The police question Department of Child Services caseworker Keith Musio, whose vague and backdated reports on the family suggest he hadn't checked on the children in months. When the overworked Keith accuses his supervisor, Janette Grayson, of orchestrating the false reports, Chief Dodds promises to conduct an internal investigation. But when neglect leads to death, Barba takes matters into his own hands and arrests them for manslaughter. Meanwhile, Dodds indicates some changes coming to Benson's squad.

Written By Creator/SamanthaCorbin-Miller

When a starving toddler is found wandering the streets, detectives are led to a home where they find another child who is in grave condition. Chief Dodds suggests that Benson's squad may be undergoing some changes.

* AbusiveParents: Manuela Ozuna and her husband kept nine year old Keisha beaten, starved, and locked in a dog cage to keep her from crying