Law and Order: Special Victims Unit is a crime and legal drama that covers cases dealing with sexual assault, abuse of children and crimes involving the elderly and young. The unit also deals with murder, abduction, robbery and child pornography cases.

The Special Victims Unit relies on forensic evidence to prosecute the perpetrators and criminals of Sex Crimes. The Unit is based out of Manhattan's 16th Precinct.

In the Real Special Victims Squad at the NYPD they work 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