Polly has herself arrested and committed to a reformatory in order to investigate conditions at the institution, after the committee charged with the investigation whitewashes the facts.
Peppy Polly obtains a position as social secretary to Judge Monroe, a prominent leader in town. But Polly's sick friend, who cannot obtain work, is arrested for "misconduct on the streets" and sent to jail. Polly tries in vain to use her influence with the judge to help her friend, but the girl is sent to Melville Reformatory. Judge Monroe takes an interest in the reformatory, and heads up a committee to investigate the place. Polly, who accompanies the judge, learns that her friend has been subjected to abuse and beatings. The committee informs the judge that the reformatory is satisfactory; but Polly tells the judge what she saw. Polly and the judge decide to run their own investigation, with Polly going undercover.
The next day, she steals a coat from a pawnshop, thinking it will land her in the reformatory. The owner runs out of the store and grabs her, but a good-natured policeman pushes the owner back into the store and apologizes to Polly for the way she was treated. Polly tries again, this time throwing a brick through a jewelry store window and taking two watches, which does get her arrested. For this crime, she is sentenced to three years. At the reformatory, Polly finds the conditions are even worse than she thought, with stool pigeons and an evil matron. Polly finds herself in solitary confinement after she is beaten. Dr. James Merritt, the resident physician, is revolted by the conditions at the institution, and makes his feelings known to the administrators. The matron is determined to have him removed. The doctor visits Polly in solitary and decides she is in no condition for such treatment. When he reports this to the matron, she orders that Polly be taken out of her cell and put to work scrubbing floors.
The doctor and Polly begin to develop feelings for each other. The matron spies on them, then sends for an agent of the governor. Polly writes a report to Judge Monroe, but the matron intercepts the letter, and announces that the judge has died suddenly. Just as Dr. Merritt is about to propose to Polly, the matron and the governor's agent descend upon them, and the doctor is arrested. Polly appeals to the agent, who agrees to take her to the judge's home. There, the judge's secretary corroborates Polly's plan. Polly and Dr. Merritt are pardoned, and get married. After the honeymoon, they are delighted to discover that the governor has placed both of them in charge of the reformatory.
