Identify theft, gay adoption, illegal immigration and PTSD are just some of the controversies that Detectives Lennie Briscoe (Jerry Orbach) and Ed Green (Jesse L. Martin), Lieutenant Anita Van Buren (S. Epatha Merkerson), Executive ADA Jack McCoy (Sam Waterston), ADA Serena Southerlyn (Elisabeth Rohm) and DA Arthur Branch (Fred Thompson) must deal with while the city still recovers from the shock of the 9/11 attack. But as they pursue and prosecute a number of difficult cases amidst an atmosphere of suspicion, their toughest challenge proves to be saying good-bye to one of their own.