As Reno awaits his pending appeal for the murder of police officer Buzzy Burrell, he is transferred to Paso Perdido Penitentiary where he finds himself in danger from the prisoners as well as the law. Unbeknownst to Reno, his cellmate, Rock Duseau, has agreed to eliminate Reno due to a blackmail scheme by Lieutenant Dutch Dixon. When Reno saves Rock during a prison yard fight, the inmate feels compelled to defy Dixon and instead asks Reno to join him in an escape attempt. Using a staged riot to distract prison guards, Reno escapes with Rock's gang, leaving Dixon to track Reno down and extract his warped sense of justice.