New York City The
New York City Police Department's Special Victims Unit, the
Special Victims Division, investigates
sex crimes. It is housed in separate Borough Patrols (Manhattan, the Bronx, Queens, Staten Island and Brooklyn). The Special Victims Division only investigates the following types of cases: • All children under 11 years of age who are the victim of
abuse by a
parent or person legally responsible for the care of the child. • All children under 13 years of age who are the victim of a
sex crime or attempted sex crime. • All victims of
rape or attempted rape. • All victims of a criminal sexual act or attempted criminal sexual act. • Victims of aggravated
sexual abuse. • Victims of sexual abuse 1st degree. They also deal with children, disabled and elderly victims of non-sexual crimes who require special handling. The Special Victims Division does not investigate murder or child sexual exploitation material cases.
Murders are investigated by the precinct detective squad in which the murder was committed and/or the borough homicide squad. Child sexual exploitation material cases are investigated by various computer crime squads and task forces. Robberies are investigated by precinct detective squads and/or
borough robbery squads. If a sex crime is involved, the Special Victims Division may assist in the investigation. In June 2022, the
Justice Department announced a federal investigation into the division's "deficiencies", including “failing to conduct basic investigative steps and instead shaming and abusing survivors and re-traumatizing them during investigations.” ==In popular culture==