In 1989, a tragic event unfolds in New York City's Central Park: a young female jogger is brutally attacked and left for dead. Amidst a media frenzy and intense public pressure, five Black and Latino teenagers from Harlem—Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana, and Kharey Wise—are arrested and interrogated for the crime. Despite inconsistencies in their confessions and a lack of physical evidence linking them to the scene, the police and prosecutors press forward with charges, driven by a desire for swift justice and racial biases. The film delves into the harrowing experiences of the boys during their grueling interrogations, the coercive tactics used by authorities, and the subsequent trials that lead to their convictions.

As the story unfolds, it highlights the devastating impact the case has on the lives of the accused and their families. It offers a critique of the criminal justice system, questioning the role of media sensationalism and racial prejudice in shaping public perception and legal outcomes. Through interviews, archival footage, and testimonies, the film pieces together the personal and social ramifications of a tragic miscarriage of justice, reflecting on the broader implications for society's treatment of young men of color. It ultimately leaves the audience to grapple with questions of morality, justice, and the long road to exoneration.