The main story thread here: Washington and LaRue make what they think is a good bust, as they collar a lowlife (Essex Smith, "Halloween III: Season of the Witch") who's been stealing from people. But everything goes awry when Joyce sees their actions as simple entrapment. Fay tells Frank that their son has been caught shoplifting, and Frank promises to have a heart-to-heart talk with the kid. Grace Gardner informs Esterhaus that she might be pregnant, and he delights in the idea.
Also, there's time for a riotous action scene as it takes the combined efforts of Belker, Bates, Coffey, and Hill to take down a mountain of a man (Mickey Morton, "Fun with Dick and Jane") who acts as a debt collector. Eventually, a number of the regulars end up in night court (something that Renko went to great lengths to try to avoid), while their cases are heard by a judge (top character actor Allan Rich, "Serpico").
One thing that's well realized is that our heroes are still human beings, and sometimes mistakes *are* made, despite everybody's best efforts. As a result, people like Jenkins (Mr. Smith) get to take advantage of the system and get off almost scot-free.
'Fruits of the Poisonous Tree' is a typically endearing, compelling mixture of comedy and drama. One of the best moments has the ever-amusing Belker doing his signature growling in court, and being forced to give it a rest by the judge, who is NOT amused. One other story thread, of a young child killed by a gang member who is not much older, results in some real poignancy and ends the episode on a sober note with Officer Bates unhappy about the sometimes grim reality of police work and life on the streets.
Jeffrey Tambor lends his typically excellent comedic presence as a weaselly attorney who gets his expensive coat ripped off - right while he's trying a case, no less.
Eight out of 10.