 Jobless Betty Andrews (Rochelle Hudson), although innocent, is convicted of a department store theft and, despite the best efforts of her lawyer and noted social worker Mary Ellis (Freida Inescort) and a reporter, Jim Brent (Glenn Ford) on her behalf, is sentenced to a year in the Curtiss House of Correction. Chief Matron Brackett (Esther Dale) rules with an iron hand with the aid of inmates Frankie Mason (Lorna Gray), "The Duchess" (June Lang) and Nita Lavore (Iris Meredith.) One of the inmates commits suicide and a subsequent story by Jim on the prison conditions leads to Mary Ellis being made the supervisor of the prison. When ten girls are allowed to go home for Thanksgiving under the promise of returning by eleven p. m., Frankie and "The Duchess", angry over losing the privileges given them by the departed Matron Brackett, arrange to have Betty kidnapped so she can not return at the appointed time. Another of the girls telephones Jim and he finds Betty a prisoner at a deserted roadhouse...