Stress Position (Law & Order: Criminal Intent)

"Stress Position" is the thirteenth episode of the fourth season of Law & Order: Criminal Intent. It marks the return of Mike Logan (Chris Noth) to the Law & Order franchise; the character appeared in the original Law & Order from 1990 to 1995.

The episode was inspired by the Abu Ghraib detainee abuse scandal.

Plot

When a Federal Corrections Officer recently hired by the New York City Fire Department is murdered, Goren and Eames investigate the prison where he worked to search for possible suspects. The investigation takes a shocking turn when the detectives discover that prison guards are torturing prisoners who have not been charged with a crime. After a nurse there is questioned, she complains to her boyfriend - Detective Mike Logan, who was stationed on Staten Island after punching a city councilman many years ago. Logan joins the investigation, and they find out that a group of prison guards are not only abusing prisoners, but also smuggling drugs for the Mafia; they killed the guard because he found out what they were doing.

When they go to the prison to arrest the perpetrators, Logan, Goren and the nurse are cornered, but Goren talks the guards down. Logan apps ready to punch the guards' ringleader, but Goren persuades him to keep his temper. Later, he remarks that the man "would have been worth another 10 years on Staten Island." The guards are arrested, and Carver uses a writ of habeas corpus to get the prisoners released.

Cast

• Vincent D'Onofrio - Robert Goren
• Kathryn Erbe - Alexandra Eames
• Jamey Sheridan - James Deakins
• Courtney B. Vance - Ron Carver