Después de mucho trabajo, el condenado a cadena perpetua Aaron (Nicholas Pinnock) ha sido nombrado abogado defensor y puede empezar a ejercer para tratar de revocar su pena y ayudar a sus compañeros de prisión. El primer caso en el que trabaja es el de un compañero, José Rodríguez, que ha sido condenado por comprar las drogas que provocaron una sobredosis a su novia y que casi le cuesta la vida. El caso de José lleva a Aaron a enfrentarse a un fiscal a cargo de Glen Maskins, un hombre que no trae precisamente buenos recuerdos al nuevo abogado, ya que es el responsable de su injusta condena por un delito que no cometió y que, si las cosas no cambian, ha alejado a Aaron de su famila de por vida. Pronto comienza una guerra entre ambos. Maskins pide a O'Reilly que sabotee la defensa de Aaron quitando del medio a los dos únicos testigos que tiene.

Aaron navega en la política de la prisión al aceptar representar al supremacista blanco Joey Knox a cambio de poder demandar a la policía por la retención de sus archivos, a pesar de que Henry Roswell, su patrocinador estatal, le aconseja no hacerlo, defendiendo que es imposible que salga bien. Wallace habla con Knox sobre las imágenes de su pelea y le ruega que diga la verdad, prometiendo sacarlo de la soledad si lo hace. De vuelta en su celda, Wallace llama a su ex mujer María y le pide que deje que Ronnie visite la prisión para que pueda conocerlo.

Aaron Wallace sigue sufriendo a manos del sistema legal mientras la policía se niega a entregar el archivo de su caso. Sin embargo, determinado a tener acceso a este archivo, Aaron decide representar a un interno del programa de rehabilitación de drogas de Safiya cuyo hermano es policía. Los esfuerzos de Safiya se encuentran con obstáculos cuando el fiscal de distrito Maskins y el fiscal de distrito adjunto O'Reilly presentan cargos contra Aaron por falsificar pruebas durante su representación de José Rodríguez en el juicio. Para llegar a Aaron, intentan intimidar a Marie, pero ella se mantiene firme.

While litigating on behalf of an inmate locked up on a robbery charge, Aaron is torn between doing what's right and what's best for his case. Heartened by Aaron's new lead, Marie recommits to his case, researching witnesses on Aaron's behalf. Plus, Safiya closes in on Foster's drug smuggling scheme.

Aaron confronts O'Reilly in court, targeting the search warrant used in Aaron's arrest and the DA's failure to disclose a confidential informant. Marie's father comes to town, intent on encouraging her and Darius to solidify their relationship. Maskins arranges for a dangerous inmate, Cassius Dawkins, to be transferred to Bellmore in hopes that he'll cause problems for Safiya and Aaron.

Aaron struggles to balance the demands of his own case with the needs of an inmate who's fighting for the right to marry his dying girlfriend. Safiya defies the prison board, effectively jeopardizing Anya's campaign as well as their marriage.

In order to maintain his lifeline to the outside world, Aaron is forced to defend Cassius Dawkins when he puts three white supremacists in the hospital; Marie struggles with her feelings for Aaron after he signs her divorce papers.

Aaron pushes to represent longtime inmate Easley Barton, hoping that winning this 23-year-old case against Maskins will strengthen his own. Captain Foster continues his drug-smuggling racket as Safiya closes in. Marie struggles with her breakup with Darius as she continues to help Aaron in his case.

Flashing back to the previous nine years of his incarceration, Aaron's journey from terrified novice prisoner to attorney and social crusader unfolds.

Aaron bolsters his case with newfound information from Marie; Cassius suspects Aaron is a snitch and seeks retribution; Foster struggles to lay low during his last two weeks before retirement, but Safiya turns up the heat.

Aaron finally gets his chance to argue for his retrial in court, but it's thwarted by the return of prison warden Cyrus Hunt; Safiya deals with the aftermath of the prison riot and attempts to salvage her reforms.

When Maskins and Cyrus Hunt try to thwart Aaron's attempt at a retrial, Aaron is forced to attempt a desperate move, risking the wrath of a powerful new adversary. The election comes to a head as Safiya tries to warn Aaron that he is now a marked man on the season finale