Many police departments--including the New York City Police Department--contain a Special Victims Squad. Like the TV program, each borough of New York City has its own special victims squad. The duties and functions of these departments differ from the version seen on television, but the departments often handle sex crime cases. The detectives on the show will investigate any sex crime, even when the case is connected to robbery or murder. In real life, this type of case would be handled directly by the department's vice squad.