After a troubled youth and 18 years in prison, William Garnett (Forest Whitaker) is being released. Despite the help of an idealistic parole agent (Brenda Blethyn), Garnett struggles to rebuild his life and overcome the violent impulses which possess him. Bill Agati (Harvey Keitel), the Sheriff of the small New Mexico border county where Garnett is released is convinced that Garnett is unredeemable and is a threat to the security of his county, and launches a campaign to return Garnett to prison for life.