Introduction:

After a high-speed freeway chase (as shown at the end of Perry’s previous film Meet the Browns) puts Madea (Tyler Perry) in front of the judge (Mablean Ephriam), her reprieve is short-lived when she goes to the store and destroys a woman’s car after she cuts in front of her. Judge Mathis (as himself) gives her a sentence of five years. A gleeful Joe (Perry) couldn’t be happier at Madea’s misfortune. But Madea’s eccentric friend Mr. Brown and their illegitimate daughter Cora (David and Tamela Mann) rally behind her with the help of Joe’s lawyer son Brian (Perry) who is tired of Madea and Joe getting into trouble, lending their special “country” brand of support.

Meanwhile, (presumably Fulton County, Georgia) assistant district attorney Joshua Hardaway (Derek Luke) is on the fast track to career success. But Hardaway lands a case too personal to handle – defending a young prostitute and former drug addict Candace Washington (Keshia Knight Pulliam), whom he is apparently already acquainted with – and asks his fiancée and fellow ADA Linda Holmes (Ion Overman) to fill in on his behalf. After the trial, Joshua, who has paid Candace’s bail, meets with a church activist friend of his (Ellen (Viola Davis)), who tries to help a wary Candace, who seems somewhat bitter and angry about her circumstances, but determined to be a survivor. Joshua and Candace talk briefly over dinner, and it is implied that the two had some past dealings with one another as college students.