Since this is a Recap, per policy all spoilers are unmarked. You Have Been Warned.
Written By Patrick Harbinson
Directed By David Platt
When a man (Rick Aiello) is arrested after attacking his pregnant wife (Josie Bissett), he wants to have her charged with neglect - for drinking during her pregnancy. On investigating, Benson finds out that this is not the first time that a child has been exposed to the devastating repercussions of the woman's uncontrolled alcoholism.
Tropes
- One Drink Will Kill the Baby: Part of the episode's Halfway Plot Switch moved from Jennifer Fulton being the victim of an attempted rape to scrutinizing her drinking and the danger it presents to her baby via Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
. Her having a previous child with FAS complicates matters for her. - Slippery Slope Fallacy: The attempt of Jennifer Fulton's defense in the contempt of court hearing is to insinuate that by preventing Jennifer from drinking (and finding her guilty for violating the family court's order for her to do so) is that pregnant mothers will soon be locked up for doing mundane things like driving, taking medication, etc. It apparently worked since she was found not guilty of contempt of court, but the Family court's ruling telling her to stop drinking still applies and she could find herself in contempt again if she is caught drinking again.
- Grammar Correction Gag: The perpetrator tagged a mirror with "Suck it bich". The lab techs also note the misspelling on a note stuck to crime photos posted in their lab.
