Law & Order: SVU Season 18 Episode 3 looks at the underbelly of college admissions. Laura, the mother of a high school senior, is so desperate to get her son Justin into Hudson University that she has sex with the Dean of Admissions. Only it turns out her partner is not the dean at all, but a security guard posing as the Dean. When Laura finds out, she accuses the man of rape.

Benson thinks Laura is correct because she would not have consented had she known the man's true identity. Sonny and Rollins aren't so sure, but the case moves forward. Laura wants to press charges and Tom, the accused, is cavalier about what he has done. The detectives get a search warrant for his apartment, where they find that TOm has letters and materials from mothers of prospective students.

The detectives find Tom in bed with another woman. They tell her his real identity. The woman is embarrassed but doesn't want to testify because then everyone would know that she had sex to try to get her daughter into school. However, the detectives also find sex tapes of several of TOm's encounters and Barba reluctantly tells Benson to make the arrest.

The judge doesn't think the case has merit and comes close to accusing Barba of contempt when he won't drop it.

Is Tom found guilty? Is Barba's career on the line? Watch Law & Order: SVU Season 18 Episode 3 online to find out what happens.