Эндзі Дзюфрэйн, малады таленавіты банкір, асуджаны за забойства сваёй жонкі ды яе каханка. Свае два пажыццёвыя зняволенні ён мае адбываць у турме Шаўшэнк. Турэмны свет жорсткі і бязлітасны: начальства турмы здзекуецца з вязняў пры дапамозе дысцыпліны і Бібліі, а вязні знушчаюцца адзін з аднога. Эндзі таксама дастаецца, але ён не пускае гэты свет жорсткасці ў сваю душу, у турме знаходзіць сябра - Рэда. Рэд займаецца кантрабандаю неабходных для вязняў рэчаў - такі ў яго турэмны занятак. Эндзі ж, як былы банкір, ведае, як можна «адмываць» грошы, і ў гэтай справе працуе на начальніка турмы; у сваю чаргу, той дазваляе Эндзі збіраць турэмную бібліятэку і дапамагаць іншым вучыцца. Так праходзіць год за годам – звычайная турэмная руціна. Але як высвятляецца, у Эндзі ёсць невялікі сакрэт...
Framed for the murder of her husband, Libby Parsons survives the long years in prison with two burning desires sustaining her -- finding her son and solving the mystery that destroyed her once-happy life. Standing between her and her quest; however, is her parole officer, Travis Lehman. Libby poses a challenge to the cynical officer, one that forces him to face up to his own failings while pitting him against his superiors and law enforcement colleagues.
When a career criminal's plan for revenge is thwarted by unlikely circumstances, he puts his intended victim's son in his place by putting him in prison...and then joining him.
Brett Sprague is a violent and psychopathic man, who is released on parole after serving a sentence for assault. As he returns to his family house and we watch him and his brothers, Stevie and Glenn, for the next 24 hours, it becomes clear this day will not end well.
Robert is found beside the highway with a head injury and amnesia. His amnesia motivates him to become a Physician and the country's leading criminal psychologist.
A single mother takes a job with the government where she is confronted with corruption.
This follow-up to the 1989 documentary ONE YEAR IN A LIFE OF CRIME revisits three of the original subjects in New Jersey during a five-year period in the 1990s. We share in their triumphs and setbacks as they navigate lives of poverty, drug abuse, AIDS, and petty crime.
At a parole board hearing, James Carter asks for a freedom he is not certain that he deserves.