Behind Bars: Rookie Year

★ 7.5 · 2015 · 60m · Reality

An original docuseries following novice correctional officers as they begin their careers inside the walks of one of the most perilous prisons in America, the Penitentiary of New Mexico.

Episodes

▶1. Is It Worth It?60m · Even the best training can't prepare a rookie Corrections Officer for the physical demands and emotional rollercoaster of their first year on the job. At the Penitentiary of New Mexico (PNM) a group of rookie COs embark on their new career. Zach experiences his first use of force, 19-year-old Tyler makes a frightening discovery, an unruly inmate tests Carlos and Ariel is out to prove everyone wrong.▶2. Respect60m · The hardest lesson for a rookie CO to learn is the difference between forcing respect and earning it. New CO Andrew's aggressive approach rubs inmates the wrong way while Keith tries to get ahead of a potentially volatile situation. Francisco confronts a lying inmate and Ariel faces her first day on the line. And for one Rookie, the job proves to be too much.▶3. Gangland60m · Gangs are the number one threat to maintaining order at PNM. Members are organized, loyal and often violent. Francisco responds to a fight while Tyler crosses the line with a gang leader. Keith assists PNM's elite gang unit and new CO Cohen Mangin aims to prove he has what it takes to follow in his family's footsteps.▶4. The Con Game60m · Inmates are called convicts for good reason. Once inside, they have nothing but time to conjure up ingenious ways to hide contraband and manipulate COs. Mangin gets conned by a career criminal and Andrew helps STIU bust a drug dealing gang member. Ariel deals with the challenges of being a female CO.▶5. The Riot60m · Violence is a way of life in prison and the threat of it keeps both COs and inmates on constant alert. Zach investigates a fight while Keith deals with unstable and violent inmates. Ariel is a "rover" wrestling with the uncertainty that comes with the job. And PNM's tragic past, which includes the bloodiest prison riot in American history, acts as both a haunting reminder and a catalyst for change.▶6. The Drug Trade60m · Most of PNM's inmates are serving long-term sentences for violent crimes, and for many it's drugs that help them get through the time. Despite efforts to keep the prison clean, narcotics always find their way into this otherwise closed world. Francisco suspects an inmate is high while Andrew takes inmates on a high-risk work detail outside of the prison. And new CO Bruce struggles under the weight of high expectations.▶7. Sink or Swim60m · With a few months on the line under their belts, the rookies are beginning to understand the harsh realities of their new careers. Keith is at a crossroads while Andrew tries to find the balance needed to be an effective officer. The training wheels come off as Ariel is tested during an emergency.▶8. Breaking Point60m · An inmate walks off a work detail; Ariel is assigned to PNM's worst inmates; Keith decides it's time for a change; Andrew and Mangin form a partnership; a former CO tries to get his job back.

More Like This

Jailbirds

2019 · ★ 6.7

At the Sacramento County Jail, incarcerated women fight the power and one another as they try to make the best of life -- and love -- on the inside.

More info →

Recht Naar De Gevangenis

2023

No synopsis available.

More info →

Holky pod zámkem

2015

No synopsis available.

More info →

Boys Banged Up

2020

Boys Banged Up is an unflinching insight into life inside a prison for young offenders (YOI).

More info →

Eksperyment: Odsiadka

2025 · ★ 7

No synopsis available.

More info →

60 Days In

2016 · ★ 6.6

An unprecedented look at life behind bars at Indiana's Clark County Jail as seven innocent volunteers are sent to live among its general population for 60 days without officers, fellow inmates, or staff knowing their secret.

More info →

Under the Radar

2023 · ★ 8

An exclusive insight into the work and recruitment of the special units of the Belgian Federal Police. Through testimonies and reconstructions, 'Under the Radar' also takes a closer look at a number of striking operations from the past.

More info →

Behind Bars: The World's Toughest Prisons

2016 · ★ 7

These are some of the toughest prisons in the world. Prisons so tough, even gang bosses and killers learn the meaning of fear. Across four continents, six different prisons, the series takes us beyond the gates, walls, barred windows and cells into an unknown world, a world we know exists, but a world nobody wants to think about.

More info →

Let’s Live Kindly

2018 · ★ 10

"Let’s Live Kindly" promises to reveal what really happens to people when they commit crimes and receive punishment. The show claims that it will not portray a simple prison experience but rather will incorporate the process of being arrested, going under trial, and being imprisoned. It will be the first Korean variety show of its kind.

More info →