10 Best Prison TV Series on Netflix Right Now (2022) – Some things are best seen from afar; the closer you approach to them, the scarier they become. Prison is one of those things. We enjoy viewing documentaries about them, as well as shows about the life of prisoners. However, we would never want to be a part of such a harsh environment. Some of the best movies, such as ‘The Shawshank Redemption,’ and TV episodes, such as ‘Prison Break,’ have been set in prisons, and the prison setting adds a lot to them. It’s always fascinating to see a heroic innocent individual end up in prison just because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. However, the character does not crumble under the strains of jail life and perseveres, eventually showing to everyone that the confinements of prison are not enough to break him/her.
Prisons may not be depicted precisely as they are in these films or television series, but we still enjoy watching them. As a result, we’ve produced a list of the best prison-related TV shows for you to watch. Here’s a selection of really good jail TV series on Netflix that you can watch right now. The collection contains comedy-drama series, real-life documentaries about the most hazardous prisons, as well as documentaries about women behind bars, all of which will satisfy your craving for intriguing prison shows and movies.
Jailbirds (2019-)
‘Jailbirds’ is a reality television series about female convicts in the Sacramento County Jail who are forced to compete for power and love in a highly competitive environment where nothing comes easy. As they go about their daily lives, the jailed women encounter several problems, and with very little chances of improving their lives on the line, they do not hesitate to use whatever means necessary to acquire what they desire. In such a competitive climate, disputes inevitably arise, as everyone rightly tries all it takes to improve their separate lives.
Inhuman Resources (2020)
‘Inhuman Resources,’ starring Eric Cantona, Suzanne Clément, and Alex Lutz, is a crime thriller series based on Pierre Lemaitre’s book ‘Cadres Noirs.’ The series follows Alain Delambre, a senior executive who has been unemployed for six years and is now willing to go to any length to find work and live a respectable life.
So, when a famous organisation presents him with the opportunity he has been waiting for his entire life, Alain does not hesitate to hit his own son-in-law, steal from his daughters, and alienate his loving wife. Unfortunately, things do not go as planned after the company challenges him to a role-playing game before hiring him. Alain is willing to do whatever is required of him without ever recognising their actual motives, but his eagerness for a job eventually leads to his demise.
Time: The Khalif Browder Story (2017)
Life may be quite unjust to certain people at times, and Kalief Browder was one of them. At the tender age of 16, Kalief was charged with a crime he did not commit and sentenced to three years in Rikers Island Prison. He was accused of attempting to steal a rucksack, and because his family was unable to pay the $900 bond, he spent three years in prison through no fault of his own. Browder committed suicide shortly after his release from prison after the allegations against him were dropped.
The series includes unique interviews with those who were involved and demonstrates how the entire system has some major flaws that cause the innocent to suffer. He committed suicide two years later, yet his narrative lives on, demonstrating that he was an American hero who fought till the bitter end. Jay Z produced the show because he wanted the world to hear the plight of the innocent Kalief Browder.
When They See Us (2019)
‘When They See Us,’ created and co-written by Ava DuVernay, is a true-crime drama series that examines the horrible 1989 Central Park jogger case, in which five innocent Harlem adolescents were wrongfully convicted of assaulting a white woman. The gripping performance reveals the time’s deep-seated bigotry and raises various questions that are still pertinent in today’s socio-political atmosphere.
Wentworth (2013-2021)
‘Wentworth’ is similar to an Australian ‘Orange is the New Black,’ but with a more serious undertone. Bea Smith, the show’s protagonist, is on trial for attempting to murder her own husband. While she awaits additional orders regarding her trial, she must learn to adapt in prison and get along with anyone she can in order to survive. The show was well produced, with excellent script and acting. If you appreciate modern drama series with a hint of the 1980s, you should certainly check this one out.
Girls Incarcerated (2018-2019)
The adolescent years are the most essential of our lives, and they may completely make or destroy us. The show chronicles the lives of young adolescent girls who are imprisoned at a juvenile facility in Madison and demonstrates the impact this has on their lives. The confinements of this facility can be exceedingly difficult at times because these young girls miss out on important life events involving family and friends.
Even inside the facility, they try to maintain excellent interpersonal relationships in order to avoid future turmoil and to celebrate modest occasions such as graduations and birthdays together. This docu-series makes you understand that it is sometimes vital to be grateful for the little things in life because there are individuals out there who live a difficult life and don’t have the option of living an ordinary life.
First and Last (2018)
‘First and Last’ is a Netflix series that follows people throughout their prison sentences. It begins with cameras rolling on newly detained inmates and then shares their journey, all the way up to their final few days in prison and till the very conclusion of their journeys in the facility. This show captures some profound insights into the life of these convicts and provides a lot more than you would anticipate from a prison docu-series.
Inside the World’s Toughest Prisons (2016-)
What’s worse than being incarcerated? Being imprisoned in a foreign country. Paul Connelly, the show’s host, takes us on a journey inside these unfriendly foreign prisons, revealing the horrible truths of these institutions. If you were disturbed by what you witnessed in ‘A Prayer Before Dawn,’ believe me when I say that this is considerably worse. You’ll never look at the prison the same way again after seeing this.
Prison Playbook (2017-2018)
‘Prison Playbook’ is a South Korean comedy-drama series that follows the lives of a baseball pitcher who is nearing the pinnacle of his profession but ends up in prison after attempting to protect his sister from a sexual assault. All of this occurs just a few days before he is scheduled to play for the Boston Red Sox. However, now that he is behind bars, he must learn to survive and adapt to the prison atmosphere.
‘Prison Playbook’ depicts prison life in an unexpected new light – with a lot of comedy. You will undoubtedly fall in love with the characters in this series and find yourself laughing and sobbing alongside them. You may find it difficult to return to watching US-based TV shows after watching this one since it sets the bar too high.
Orange is the New Black (2013-2019)
The most well-known series on this list is arguably ‘Orange Is the New Black.’ It depicts the narrative of a young lady who is sentenced to prison for her previous life of drug smuggling with her lesbian partner. Because this is her first time in prison, she gradually learns to adapt to her surroundings and forms relationships that may get her in problems in the future.
This show’s first few seasons are incredibly intriguing and beautifully written, and you won’t be able to take your eyes off it for the first few seasons. However, it soon loses its allure and becomes a drag. Start watching this show and keep watching until it entertains you because it will at the beginning, and watching the remaining several seasons is entirely up to you.