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"Fixed"
L&O, Episode 15.11
Production number: E53
First aired: 8 December 2004
  th of 456 produced in L&O  
th of 456 released in L&O
  th of 1271 released in all  
Lo1511
Written By
Eric Overmyer & Roz Weinman

Directed By
Ed Sherin

McCoy and Southerlyn prosecute a defendant in the murder of a parolee.

Plot[]

The police investigate a hit and run, but it looks like he's been run over on purpose after dropping off a young girl at her school. The man turns out to be Jacob Lowenstein, who was recently released on parole despite the abuse he inflicted on his family. The detectives find his parole officer has lost track of him due to his high case load. Fontana and Green then interview the former captain of their precinct, Donald Cragen, who advises them to find Lowenstein's ex-wife and son. Both of them have alibis and are ruled out. The detectives then go to the hospital to speak to Lowenstein and find he has a new fiancé named Sheryl. The detectives talk to her and are shocked at her lack of concern for her two children, considering his past. Lowenstein had apparently been walking her young daughter Emily to school the day he was run over.

The detectives interview his prison therapist, Joyce Draper who claims to have refused contact with Lowenstein, per the rules. The detectives then return to the hospital to talk to Lowenstein and inform him that the accident may have been intentional. He blames his ex-wife and the media for all his problems, incarceration and subsequent negative notoriety. The detectives then decide to look into Lowenstein's life in prison. They discover he got a law degree to keep safe in prison. He also was enrolled in a therapy group run by Joyce Draper who quit the project and more than likely proceeded to track Lowenstein. The detectives find out Draper drives an SUV just as they find out Lowenstein dies. Van Buren tells Southerlyn they discovered a crack in the front grill and trace DNA on the car that matches Lowenstein. Draper comes in for an interview with Van Buren and is confronted with the evidence. She denies knowing anything about the accident, refuses to continue and asks for a lawyer.

Southerlyn finds out from the school nurse that Emily had fallen off her bike and she had a cast on her arm. Draper had called the school to try to find out what had happened to Emily but did not get an answer and most likely assumed Lowenstein had abused Emily like he did his own daughter. Draper is arrested. At the trial, the prosecution shows the tape of one of the therapy seasons with Draper and Lowenstein in prison, which shows him unrepentant and in denial of doing anything wrong. It also shows Draper knew then of his relationship with Sheryl and her children. Throughout the trial, Joyce Draper consistently denies any involvement in stalking or hitting Lowenstein with her car. The defense attacks the heinous character of Jacob Lowenstein, while highlighting the moral integrity of Joyce Draper, and she is found not guilty.

Cast[]

Main cast[]

Recurring cast[]

Guest cast[]

References[]

Didi Lowenstein

Quotes[]

Branch: They knew she was guilty, but didn't want to hold her accountable.

McCoy: Goidell gave them a door to walk through and they took it.

Branch: They don't think the system works for guys like Lowenstein any more than we do.

Southerlyn: So what's the answer?

McCoy: Nobody has one.

Branch: I think that's exactly why Joyce Draper is on her way home tonight.

I hope he lingers for a long time in excruciating pain!

–Donald Cragen

Background information and notes[]

  • This episode marks the second appearances of Jacob and Carla Lowenstein, who previously appeared in the episode "Indifference".
    • This episode was written as a sequel to "Indifference" due to the release of Joel Steinberg, the real-life figure who inspired Jacob Lowenstein.
  • Captain Cragen was incorrectly credited as a Lieutenant early in the episode during its first broadcast. This was corrected for reruns and DVD.
  • Despite having plea-bargained and having been sentenced for killing her daughter in "Indifference", Carla Lowenstein is depicted as having never spent time in jail. Also, her daughter's death was not mentioned as being caused by her. Furthermore, she is said to have instead spent most of the time that had lapsed since then with a psychologist who allowed her to recover from Jacob's abuse.

Episode scene cards[]

1 2 3

New York State
Division of Parole
Monday, December 15

Office of
Dr. Jack Clayburg
631 East 61st Street
Monday, December 15

Eastside Hospital
623 East 23rd Street
Tuesday, December 16

4 5 6 7

Eastside Hospital
623 East 23rd Street
Wednesday, December 17

Sing Sing
Correctional Facility
Wednesday, December 17

Office of
Dr. Evodius Peters
222 West 69th Street
Friday, December 19

Supreme Court
Trial Part 38
Tuesday, January 20

Previous episode:
"Enemy"
"Fixed"
Law & Order
Season 15
Next episode:
"Mammon"
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