It's no secret that the system is broken. Social Workers are overworked and underpaid, and it's the children that suffer. Social Worker do their best to keep track of all the families in their care, but when it comes down to it there are not enough time in day to help everyone. But on the other hand, they shouldn't neglect a family because they don't have time for them. And that's just what happen in this episode.
It all started with a little boy was that found walking the streets alone at night. Bruno walked into a convenient store because he's mother didn't leave him any food. When Bruno went to pay, the man who worked there, noticed that the little boy was alone. So he called the police, and they called SVU. When Benson showed up it was clear that the boy was neglected and haven't eaten in days. When they took him to the hospital all Bruno could say was his name.
When the detectives did a drop by at child services to find Bruno's mother, the Caseworker that was working their case took Benson and Carisi to the boy's apartment in the projects. When they got there the door was open and the apartment was very hot. But most importantly they were looking for Bruno's half sister. When they went into her bedroom and found Kesha in a dog cage, on the edge of death. And sadly later that day Kesha had died. Do to that fact, Kesha's mother was charged with murder.
When the SVU squad looked further into the case they discovered that the Social Workers who worked Bruno and Kesha's case, falsified their paperwork. Saying that they visited the family two weeks ago and the children looked healthy and clean. But in fact Kesha's mother said she hasn't seen any Social Worker since before Easter. When Barba found this out he charged the Social Workers with manslaughter, because if they did their jobs currently that little girl would still be alive.
This episode was great, Whoopi Goldberg did an amazing job. The best scene was when she took the stand and Barba brought all the cases to light. Whoopi's character falsified over a hundred different cases that involved children that either was hospitalised, beaten and one child even moved out of the country. That's when she broke down saying, that you don't get it, we have to deal with these children that are being raised by wolves. For what, nothing...
It's true.. Social Worker don't get the credit that they deserve, they're overworked and underpaid. It seems like all the jobs that are meant to make a difference in this world are underpaid. Teachers, Social Workers, even our Soldiers are unpaid. When it comes down to it, their jobs become a labor of love.
