Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (TV Series) Parole Violations (2015) User Reviews

"They own you"

[bkoganbing · 8/10 · 4 December 2015]

This episode shows us some of the personal life of SVU's newest member Peter Scannavino. His sister Marin Ireland is pregnant by her fiancé Michael Chernus who has been a screw up all his life. He just got busted for violating his parole by being in a bar brawl. But when Scannavino goes to bail him out he tells him a wild tale about being raped by his female parole officer Molly Price, Scannavino thinks he's lying through his teeth.

Nevertheless he brings the case to his squad and they do their due diligence. Scannavino himself becomes a believer after he witnesses a raid at Chernus's and Ireland's apartment by the same parole officer Price. Way too coincidental.

ADA Rafael Barba knows what a tough case this is to make. His witnesses and his complainant are officially labeled criminals going against a law enforcement officer with an impeccable record. And as he learns when one of his convict witnesses deserts him and appears for the defense as said witness tells the court, "they own you". They do because as a parolee you have no rights as regular citizens do, you gave them up when you were convicted. Another case of absolute power corrupting absolutely.

This episode besides Peter Scannavino is also owned by Rafael Barba. This man thinks very fast on his feet. When his witness is forced to defect to the other side, Barba is at his best when he cross examines Biniam Tekola the witness. The scene is priceless.

One of the very best SVU stories ever.

Violations complications

[TheLittleSongbird · 8/10 · 25 August 2022]

When in its prime, 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit' (well actually the whole 'Law and Order' franchise but especially 'Special Victims Unit' when on form) was better than most shows at its handling of relevant but difficult topics. Have said this more than once before, but it is always worth saying and there shouldn't be a limit on how often it's said. As it is one of the show's biggest selling points and it was obvious even when the show became more variable later.

"Parole Violations" was a mostly very impressive episode, it's thought probing, hard hitting and suitably twisty while making an important point without preaching. It is not as good as Season 3's "Ridicule", another episode that covers the subject of males also being victims and iterates that it is not just women that are abused. It was great to have some focus on Carisi, who mostly made a great impression in his first season (apart from "Decaying Morality" and "December Solstice"), though did worry about how the mix of personal life and case would work out. Luckily, it's well done.

There is much to admire. It is well made, not having too much of a filmed play feel while not being gimmicky. The music is haunting yet not overwrought. The direction is accomodating but is alert enough to the drama, so it's not choppy or draggy. The script pulls no punches while also not preaching, it has spark and doesn't take itself overly seriously or treat its subject as a joke. Really appreciated "Parole Violations" for handling this subject matter, or even daring to, and appreciate it even more for its uncompromising, hard hitting but not heavy handed, one sided or sleazy treatment of it.

As usual, love Barba's straight talking and sass. While Carisi was a great character this season, he is at his most interesting here. Did like that his personal life actually not only revolved around the case but actually was it, as far as the mix of personal life and case goes this season this is one of the best episodes as it doesn't feel like two plots in one (instead one big one that connects together very well). Also appreciated that its main point of women can be abusers too wasn't too in your face and why it is easy to be skeptical.

Raul Esparza and Peter Scanavino are excellent here, Carisi's chemistry with Tommy is the episode's heart and done in a way where there is no judgement, the skepticism in this case is understandable this time as this viewer did initially feel similarly, but also no refusing to believe any other theory. The guest star acting is equally fine, with Molly Price playing her creepy character to the hilt. The dramatic highlight is Jordan's cross examination, that had tension and was emotion filled.

It isn't perfect. Didn't care for Barba's sloppy comment regarding former ADAs, that was tactless and continuity goes at this point.

Carisi's family scenes had room for more depth than what was given.

Otherwise, very good handling of a tough and not explored enough subject. 8/10.

Karma can be such fun to watch

[melanie-73522 · 9/10 · 21 July 2021]

I know every person is entitled to a vigorous defense, but I don't have to respect the lawyers that choose to defend scummy clients, particularly when those clients are involved in law enforcement.

Carisi Family Life: But This is Not One of Them

[yazguloner · 10/10 · 16 December 2021]

The roles of the victim and the perpetrator also change. The big fish is the same as the little fish: abuse of authority and power.

In Svu, dark gray cases continue as darkest gray. "Your ass belongs to them" "Never trust a junky" episode slogans.

At the center of the family theme is the carisi. It continues through Olivia and Noah.

Good but rare episode

[marysammons-42220 · 7/10 · 25 July 2020]

I loved that this episode actually dealt with men being assaulted by women in power. Olivia treated it no differently. What is sad is this is rare for SVU. Most episodes dealing with men are actually teenage boys and a female teacher. The only other one I can remember was season 3 with the male stripper. The other sad thing is that this episode is about 5 years old and they would never do one like it now. Unless it's a gay/ trans man and a hate crime. Season 21 was god awful and nothing but men are rapists. And from what I can gather season 22 will be all cops are racist. Warren Leight sounded bad he couldn't make every episode about a bad cop when talking about season 22 on a podcast. And Mariska Hargitay and her man bashing agenda won't let an episode like this happen either. The actor who played Tommy was very good. So was Molly Price as the sleazy parole officer.

Interesting episode that should have been better

[whoneedsascreenname · 5/10 · 10 September 2023]

If you can tolerate Marin Ireland's tortuous attempt at a New York dialect, you'll find underneath all her babble an interesting episode -- and a rare one for SVU, featuring a storyline about a man assaulted by a woman

The victim is Carisi's soon-to-be brother-in-law, a low-rent guy named Tommy (isn't every random character on SVU unimaginatively named Tommy?) who's been trying to get his life together

Now that Carisi's sister Bella (Ireland) is pregnant, Tommy's trying more than ever to keep his life on the straight-and-narrow

A powerful parole officer (well-played by Molly Price) however has other ideas, and sadly Tommy's life starts to come apart again

Anyway, it's mostly good stuff, but Ireland's performance is so distracting it takes ya right out of the story every time she speaks

For the love of god svu, either cast real New Yorkers (which should be a given), hire a dialect coach, or just let your out-of-town actors speak plain old English the way they normally do

Basically a 6 or 7-star episode; deductions for distractions.