While admitting new inmate Stephen Cartwright into the young offender's institution where she works as a prison officer, Tina Dakin senses that something does not seem right. Notifying her senior officer, Tina is distracted by another emergency, but on returning to Stephen's cell she discovers that the boy has taken his life. After her attempts to resuscitate Stephen fail, Tina's troubles multiply when a series of betrayals and cover-ups result in her becoming the victim of a crime.