The second season starts off with Piper in solitary confinement (the SHU). She has obviously been there for some time because her sanity seems to be failing. Instead of eating her breakfast she, uses it to make art all over the wall of her cell. Piper must make an extremely difficult decision which could affect the outcome of her stay in prison. Written by Lorne Kirstein

A job fair arrives at the prison. Taystee decides to take the chance to win a job. At the same time, we also see her past life at an adoption fair as a child. Pennsatucky leaves the SHU after a month. Healy and Pennsatucky argue over the events of the Christmas pageant then make a deal about what Pennsatucky will say. After Red burned Gina by accident, she must deal with being alone in the hope of getting new friends. Written by James Hake

After Piper returns back to the prison, she meets a new inmate named Soso, which has many problems which Piper helps her out with. And after Vee returns to prison she is not welcomed at first but is soon gaining her place back on top with the help of Crazy eyes. Lastly we see that Morello is now single due to her boyfriend breaking up with her and now marrying a new girl, also problems with Diaz and John arise, and Larry gets a new date. Written by James Hake

When Poussey creates a peeing device to help a female pee, the girls all have questions on how the female vagina works, in which Sophia helps them out. Morello goes on a stroll to her ex-boyfriends house and we discover that she may be a bit crazy, and at the same time Miss Rosa meets a boy. Piper is sent to bunk with Red, and Red looking for control finds a greenhouse and wants to make that a new activity. And when Piper finds all her stuff laying around since she was gone, she finds her blanket to be in the hands of Big Boo and in order for her to get it back, she must arrange a date with Soso and Boo. Written by James Hake

Gloria and Vee have a duel against each other, involving all the girls. We see that Gloria committed fraud to come to prison and has an abusive boyfriend. Piper gets a visit from her family to receive bad news that her grandma is dying so she wants to pay her a visit. Healy has a bad date and decides to go to the bar, and to his surprise, he discovers Joe to be there and starts a new friendship with him. Written by James Hake

We see Poussey's past, Piper gets a visit from Larry asking for her to be a mole, which she accepts. At the same time Valentines day is happening and Gloria's crew gets ready for the party. Piper also makes a deal with Healy to start a newspaper club, and after Red finds a sewer hole, she starts to go back to her old ways. Big Boo and Nicky continue their bang-off. Written by James Hake

Piper helps Andrew exploit the prison on Larry's request. We see Black Cindy's past, Bennet gets blackmailed, and by request of Joe, the guards must write more shots. Also Vee starts her inmate run business and at the same time issues arise, and Red continues her 'gardening' club. The Figueroas have issues. Written by James Hake

Piper faces a new backlash over special privileges; Capulo feels pressure to toughen up, resulting in administrative changes.

Pornstache is back and makes the prison a hellhole by being very strict and being the usual Pornstache, while Piper finally leaves the prison from her furlough agreement and spends it at her grandmother's funeral, while at the same time having problems with everyone around her. And then we see more of Red's past as we see her first days in the prison, with her and Vee. Written by James Hake

The prison guards try to clear up the smuggling issue with an inspection, in which they find some interesting stuff. Healy starts a support group. After Bennett lied to Caputo about who had sex with Diaz, they put the blame on Pornstache without telling him. Then out of her whole sentence, Sophia finally gets a visit from her son, and at the same time Morello gets a bad visit from Christopher. Piper gets a visit from Polly and discovers who slept with Larry. And lastly when Nicky gets caught with a drug, Gina wants her to tell Red, in which she refuses. Written by James Hake

We see sister Jane's past as an activist, Soso gets more people with her hunger strike and gets Caputo involved, Figueroa uses the rape scandal to help her husband's election for senate. Also, Diaz and Bennett are in a hold in their relationship due to Pornstache being held accountable for the baby, Piper calls Vause to discuss their main boss, and after Red learns that Big Boo was the one who gave the information on how Red is getting her stuff into the prison, she gets the last favor she will ever get done by her. Also, Polly tells Pete devastating news that she is leaving him for Larry, which doesn't go down so well, and after Healy starts a support group, Crazy Eyes decides to join in to make sure no one spills anything about their deals. Written by James Hake

A storm brings all the prisoners to leave their normal places and be all together. After one of Red's groupies accidentally doesn't kill Vee but someone else who looks like her, Vee and Red start an all out war. Piper has gotten notification to leave Litchfield and go to a prison in Virginia, which is very upsetting. Poussey has a tantrum and destroys all of Vee's merchandise, which doesn't go so well for Taystee, Diaz and Bennett try to deal with their baby daddy issue, and at the same time Figueroa and Caputo have trouble with each other. Written by James Hake

The SIS visits the prison due to Vee severely injuring Red and to find out who did it, but due to Vee's request, Janae and black Cindy put the blame on Crazy Eyes, while Red and Sister Ingalls talk together in the ER, as Red plots against Vee. Piper gets a devastating visit from Alex and another visit from Polly and Larry, while Miss Rosa gets devastating news too. Poussey and Taystee are now friends again, Healy continues his safe place club, but when no one joins, he decides to cancel it, affecting Pennsatucky, and due to Sister Ingall's hunger strike, the nuns protest outside the prison affecting Caputos good day. Written by James Hake