For Life

Pilot

Prisoner Aaron Wallace becomes a lawyer, litigating cases for other inmates while fighting to overturn his own wrongful conviction.

Promises

Tensions rise between Aaron and his crew when he provides counsel to a white supremacist in order to repay his debt to inmate Wild Bill. District Attorney Maskins ups his game when Aaron sues the NYPD in an attempt to gain access to his case file. Meanwhile, his daughter’s boyfriend, Ronnie, braces for confrontation as he visits the prison to meet Aaron for the first time.

Brother's Keeper

Determined to gain access to his police file, Aaron decides to represent an inmate from Safiya’s drug rehabilitation program whose brother is a cop. District Attorney Maskins and Assistant District Attorney O’Reilly close in on proof of Aaron’s malfeasance during Jose Rodriguez’s trial, targeting Marie as a way to get to Aaron.

Marie

Taking us back nine years, Marie struggles in her marriage to Aaron as she deals with the turbulence of Aaron’s arrest, trial and incarceration.

Witness

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.

Burner

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.

Do Us Part

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.

Daylight

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.

Buried

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.

Character and Fitness

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

Switzerland

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.

Closing Statement

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.

Fathers

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

Never Stop Fighting

After nine years of fighting to win his freedom, it’s do or die for Aaron Wallace. As dangerous enemies lurk at Bellmore and Marie faces criminal charges for assisting Aaron in prior cases, Aaron must find a way to gain the upper hand on Maskins.

Homecoming

A newly liberated man, Aaron acclimates to family life outside of prison. As he attempts to help Jamal with his case, Aaron encounters Jamal’s sister who needs legal help of her own. Former nemesis Spencer Richardson proposes an intriguing work opportunity to Aaron and Roswell.

The Necessity Defense

At the urging of Spencer Richardson, Aaron defends a woman charged with holding hospital workers at gunpoint to secure lifesaving treatment for her son. Aaron and Marie navigate their newly intimate relationship, and a young social justice warrior joins Aaron and Roswell’s firm.

Time to Move Forward

As a favor to Jamal, Aaron defends a man in a witness tampering case, while tensions rise at home in the run-up to the Wallace family Thanksgiving.

Collars for Dollars

After Aaron and Roswell agree to help a young woman facing deportation for a minor crime, they realize her case could be a key to exposing a broad pattern of police corruption. Meanwhile, Jasmine begins to spend more time at Ronnie's house and Marie grapples with the first signs of an empty nest.

354

After an urgent call from Bellmore concerning the growing COVID-19 pandemic, Aaron enlists Safiya’s help and heads back to the prison to investigate. Meanwhile Marie faces a choice: Expose her family to the virus or go all-in at the hospital.

Say His Name

Aaron takes on the case of an unarmed man shot by a police officer. Safiya represents Ronnie after he’s arrested and roughed up by law enforcement, and the family struggles with whether to have Aaron Jr. baptized.

For The People

Aaron faces pressure from all sides when he is forced to decide which charges to bring against the officers responsible for the killing of an unarmed civilian. While Safiya pursues video evidence that could change their case, Roswell searches for a way to move the case from Staten Island to a friendlier venue.

The Blue Wall

With Aaron and Marie facing threats from an increasingly hostile community, Aaron and his team double down by pursuing criminal charges against a high-ranking police officer they believe tried to cover up the shooting.

Andy Josiah

Aaron and his legal team face their toughest trial yet as they prosecute the police officer responsible for the killing of an innocent, unarmed Black man.