
It portrays the detective work of a homicide department in Baltimore; Detective John Munch, Lt. Al Giardello and Detective Meldrick Lewis deal with murder cases.

Murders in Little Italy involve Giardello's family; the unit regroups with two new detectives, Rene Sheppard (Michael Michele) and Mike Giardello (Giancarlo Esposito).

Racial tensions mount between Ballard and Pembleton, who refuses to question Felix Wilson; Munch and Kellerman probe a murder at Camden Yards.

Pembleton fights to regain control of the investigation when new evidence links a member of the Wilson family to the murder; guest James Earl Jones.

Falsone and Lewis team up with Detective Stivers (Toni Lewis) to investigate a vicious attack on a young woman who is unable to provide any details.