The squad deals with the sensitive issue of underage law-breaking in the upcoming episode of the NBC procedural series "Law & Order: SVU."
In "Transgender Bridge," Cartermatt reports that Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and the rest of the Special Victims Unit (SVU) team will try to serve justice to a transgender youngster who is hurt badly after being pushed off a bridge. The culprit, another teenager, must face the consequences of his action. However, as with other cases of juvenile delinquency, it will require sensitive handling, as the unit will soon find out.
Avery Parker (guest star Christopher Dylan) is walking home from school when she's surrounded by a group of raucous boys. Jokes and hecklings soon become more physical, ending with the 15 year-old transgender in the hospital. Three attackers are put under arrest. When the District Attorney decides to try one of them, Darius McCrae (guest star Dante Brown), as an adult, the team is thrown in the deep end.
The detectives cannot help but agonize whether the teen's punishment fits his crime. When both families become involved, as well as the public, the entire trial develops into one big spectacle. What will the people from SVU do to ensure that justice will still prevail and to protect the youngsters at the same time? While they do understand that the Parker family is bent on putting those who hurt their child in jail, they also feel that the court's decision seems a bit too much.
Meanwhile, Design & Trend reports that episode 3 will also explore transphobia. In the promo released by NBC, Darius explains to Benson that he pushed Avery off the bridge that they were both standing on to prove that he was not gay. While he looked like he regret hurting Avery, his momentary loss of control of his emotions landed him in a situation he could not reverse.
"Law & Order: SVU" airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. EST on NBC.
