When new prison warden Henry Brubaker (Robert Redford) goes undercover in a state penitentiary, he's horrified by what he sees: Prisoners are being sold as slaves, and decent food can't be obtained without cold, hard cash. Brubaker sets out to improve the system, but the more he reforms, the more enemies he makes among the townspeople who've benefited from the corruption. Soon, he's in a heap of trouble -- and no one seems willing to help him.