Stone and Benson in “Unfinished Business”

Look, what you do working full-time as a lieutenant and being a single mother that must take more energy than I can imagine. And you... what I mean is, you make it look effortless.

Benson

Okay, you don't have to flatter me.

I'm just telling you how I see it.

Benson

Okay. Carisi's niece is telling the truth. Uh, she may have been unclear the first time, but the second time, I believe her.

I do too, but she's still an imperfect witness.

Benson

Welcome to Sex Crimes. Look, Stone, there are no perfect witnesses. They leave out part of the story. They can't remember. They feel guilty, change their minds. They blame themselves. They think it's their fault, but that's why we're here. To fight for them. And the less perfect they are, the harder we fight. Look, nobody asks a robbery or a homicide victim if she wanted it. Nobody says, Hey, why was she walking down the dark alley? Why was she wearing the dark skirt? Nobody implies that the crime was somehow her fault.

I'm just used to having more evidence before I go to trial.

Benson

You have the victim's word. We go to trial so the victim, the survivor can look her rapist in the eye and tell the world, her truth. We go to trial so she can be heard. The truth, that's what heals. If you're going to trial because because you want to win, you're in the wrong place.