Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (TV Series)

No Good Reason (2017)

Raúl Esparza: ADA Rafael Barba

Photos 

Quotes 

• Rafael Barba : What did Max mean when he said that Andrew liked Mandy too much?

  Olivia Benson : It's a teenager's justification for taking what he wants without consent. We've heard that before.

  Rafael Barba : Yeah, but we haven't heard it from Andrew.

  Olivia Benson : Maybe Mandy has.

  Rafael Barba : I thought you told her not to communicate with him.

  Olivia Benson : And since when do teenagers listen?

• Rafael Barba : [while reading the texts that were sent to Mandy]  "We hate you, you ugly bitch," "You wanted it, now you're crying rape, you piece of trash," "Liar, liar, ugly little liar."

  Olivia Benson : Mandy's been sent dozens of texts, messages, photos. She's been bullied non-stop for the past three days. She hasn't told her parents. She hasn't told anyone.

  Rafael Barba : Do we know who's sending these?

  Amanda Rollins : Yeah, I mean, it's kids from the high school, boys and girls. And girls are actually more brutal.

  Olivia Benson : The school has issued some suspensions, but they say that they can't police off-campus social media use.

  Rafael Barba : Yeah, they're teenagers, so they don't listen to their parents.

  Amanda Rollins : Yeah, and they're empowered because they're behind a screen. I mean, even Andrew's been texting her.

  Rafael Barba : Anything that rises to the level of harrassment?

  Olivia Benson : Oh. Yes. "Why are you doing this?", "Call me back", "We need to talk." It's... it's non-stop. I mean, you ask me, that's harassment.

  Rafael Barba : You ask a judge, it's not.

  Amanda Rollins : The level of viciousness from these other kids, I mean... they... they drove her to a point, you know, right; I mean, she was... she was on the edge of the cliff.

  Rafael Barba : And you and Liv pulled her back.

• Rafael Barba : Anything from the kit?

  Olivia Benson : There's no DNA. There's genital trauma, bleeding, bruising. All consistent with sexual assault.

  Rafael Barba : So one of these boys is guilty. It's like playing three card monte.

  Olivia Benson : Yeah.

  Rafael Barba : Who has the most to lose?

  Olivia Benson : I'd say the kid who took the picture of a half-naked 15-year old girl and texted them to everyone in the school.

• Public Defender Guthrie : We'll plead to forcible touching.

  Rafael Barba : I'm not impressed, Mr. Guthrie.

  Public Defender Guthrie : I don't think a jury will be impressed by a vic that was too high to ID my client and testimony of co-conspirators who cut a deal.

  Rafael Barba : In the interest of sparing Mandy a trial, I'll drop to the "E" felony. No jail time, six years probation, and...

  Public Defender Guthrie : No way. He's not going on the registry for this.

  Rafael Barba : It's a sexual offense. It's mandatory. Rape three, that's my final offer.

• Rafael Barba : The strongest message we can send is a conviction on the rape. How is Mandy's state of mind now? Can she testify?

  Amanda Rollins : She's... she's getting counseling and her parents are supportive, but... it's gonna take time.

  Rafael Barba : Which we don't have.

  Olivia Benson : Can you make the case without her?

  Rafael Barba : If I have to. I wouldn't want to.

• Olivia Benson : [a witness has chosen not to testify]  Now what? Max is the one who saw Andrew go into the study. He saw Andrew on top of Mandy, heard him bragging.

  Rafael Barba : So without Max, I don't have a case.

  Olivia Benson : Can you compel his testimony?

  Rafael Barba : Yeah, I could, but it usually backfires.

  Olivia Benson : Well, if Andrew wasn't open to a plea before, he certainly won't be now.

  Rafael Barba : Yeah, not without some leverage.