Law & Order: Teenage Wasteland

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The beating death of a restaurant owner leads Briscoe and Green to thrill-seeking teenagers; McCoy and Lewin are forced to decide how young is too young for the death penalty. Read full recap »

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Writers:: Aaron Zelman, Barry Schindel

Director:: Constantine Makris

Stars:: Jerry Orbach (Det. Lennie Briscoe); Dianne Wiest (D.A. Nora Lewin); Jesse L. Martin (Det. Ed Green); Angie Harmon (A.D.A. Abbie Carmichael); Sam Waterston (Exec. A.D.A. Jack McCoy); S. Epatha Merkerson (Lt. Anita Van Buren)

Recurring Role:: Lou Sones (Clerk); John Ramsey (Judge Walter Schrieber); Leslie Hendrix (Dr. Elizabeth Rodgers)

Guest Star:: Kay Walbye (Neighbor); Michelle Stern (Heather Russo's Attorney); Clayton LeBouef (Simms's Attorney); Giulia Pagano (Mrs. Russo); Lou Bonacki (Mr. Russo); Jo Twiss (Carol Warner); Don Sparks (Lawrence Donato); Danny Burstein (Lester Rosenfeld); Sharon Hope (Arraignment Judge); Erin Dilly (Emily); Tim Salamandyk (Foreperson); Charles Navarrette (Painter #2); Cesar de Leon (Painter #1); Pete Simpson (CSU Officer); Dennis Paladino (Super); Gregory Zaragoza (Joseph); Brennan Brown (Technician); Brenda Pressley (Shannon Hayes); John Heffernan (Marvin Warner); Murphy Guyer (Leslie Stanton); Alex Feldman (Mitch Regan); Lynn Chen (Jenny Wu); Wai Ching Ho (Mrs. Ngai); Danielle Carin (Heather Russo); Audrie Neenan (Judge Marilyn Haynes); Ken Garito (Kevin Russo); Jason Ritter (Nick Simms); Molly Regan (Mrs. Regan)

This is one of the only a handful of episodes in which the district attorney (Nora Lewin) appears in court. edit »

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(Lewin addressing the press regarding her decision on the death penalty.)
Nora Lewin: My decision today continues this office's decision of objectively applying the laws of this state to the cases it's charged with prosecuting in this great city. Ours is an island but we are not untouched by the national debate or its dictates concerning the death penalty. That being said, my decision goes against my personal feelings, but as District Attorney, I took an oath to uphold the law which includes applying the death penalty fairly with due process of law. To do otherwise would be to substitute my own judgement for the judgement of those the people elected to make such decisions. Accordingly, I am forced to conclude that notice to the court of our intention to seek the death penalty in the case of the People versus Mitch Reagan is appropriate. edit »
(After Mitch Regan says the killing was an accident)
Jack McCoy: Charge him with murder. A person doesn't lose the back of his skull unless the killer intends him to. edit »
(Talking about Mr. Ngai)
Lennie Briscoe: Guy works fifteen hours a day, ends up in a puddle in the rain.
Ed Green: He left his mark though. Three kids and a business that supports two families. edit »
Nora Lewin: What should be the standard to take the life of a teenager?
Abbie Carmichael: Where I come from, it's where the crime committed is so vicious, so cruel, he forfeits the right to get any older.
Nora Lewin: Where I come from a person can't forfeit that right. We can only take it from him. edit »