S5·E18 Careless

Episode recap

In the eighteenth episode of the fifth season of Law and Order Special Victims Unit, titled Careless, the detectives of the elite squad investigate the death of a young foster child. The child dies as a result of a religious ritual that goes awry. As the investigation progresses, the detectives uncover a pattern of violence, abuse, and murder occurring within a single foster care family. The episode follows the squad as they work to unravel the circumstances surrounding these events.

Law and Order Special Victims Unit is an American police procedural crime drama television series created by Dick Wolf for NBC. The series serves as the first spin-off of the original Law and Order program and focuses on the members of the New York City Police Department who are specially trained to investigate sexually-based offenses. These detectives handle cases involving rape, pedophilia, child abuse, human trafficking, and domestic violence. The series is noted for its longevity as a primetime live-action program. The core premise of the show centers on the dedicated detectives who investigate these vicious felonies within the criminal justice system. The program has featured cast members including Mariska Hargitay, Christopher Meloni, Ice-T, and Dann Florek. The series continues to explore the stories of the squad as they seek justice for victims of these crimes.