... Excuse me, is that how it works? He should DEMAND roast duck while at Riker's. Who knew it was that easy.
This episode is about a brilliant writer, Clay Warner, who is also a "bad seed" to the point that his mother hasn't seen him in years and doesn't want to. When a cabby grabs a cigar out of Clay's mouth one night to keep him from smoking, Warner stabs him in anger, steals his money, and takes off. When Warner realizes the jig is up concerning the evidence against him, he makes an offer to McCoy - He'll plead to anything as long as he gets the death penalty. Oh, and by the way, Warner has zero remorse.
This seems to put Jack in a dilemma. He seems to NOT want to give this guy the death penalty, but instead wants life without parole. So Jack brings in a psychiatrist hoping he will say he is insane, has probing discussions with ADA Serena and DA Arthur Branch over the situation. But the solution really is simple. In the words of Mick Jagger - "You don't always get what you want.". Give the guy life in prison - apparently that prospect is what he is really dreading anyways - and go home and sleep at night. As for what actually happens - watch and find out.
There were better episodes of L&O discussing the death penalty and even its aftermath. This is not a bad episode, just an extremely mediocre one, which is surprising.