This is a story about the everyday lives of law enforcement officers in the New York Police Department. The focus is on a seasoned detective named Elliot Stabler, who returns to his duties after a ten-year hiatus. During this time, both the city and the U.S. legislative framework, as well as the department itself, have undergone significant changes. The protagonist must readjust to his work anew. Complicating matters is the fact that he has been undergoing therapy for a severe personality disorder all these years.