Jobless Betty Andrews, although innocent, is convicted of a department store theft and, despite the best efforts of her lawyer and noted social worker Mary Ellis and of a reporter, Jim Brent, is sentenced to a year in the Curtiss House of Correction. Chief Matron Brackett rules with an iron hand with the aid of inmates Frankie Mason, "The Duchess", and Nita Lavore. 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 correction center. Although initially reluctant to trust the new leader, Betty eventually warms to her. When ten girls are allowed to go home for Thanksgiving under the promise of returning by eleven P.M., Frankie and "The Duchess", having lost the power and privilege they enjoyed under 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 soon finds Betty a prisoner at a deserted roadhouse. Jim rescues Betty and returns her to the correction center, a little late but, as it turns out, just in time for her to be handed a pardon by Mary Ellis.
