Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
We’re only weeks away from the seventh and final season of one of the most beloved prison series of all time, Orange Is the New Black. It’s sad for sure, but just because Piper is busting out that doesn’t mean you’re out of binge-watches about jail and prison on Netflix. The streaming giant has a ton of incarcerated options just waiting for you to press play. The only question is, which prison docuseries is right for you?
Choosing the right prison or jail docuseries is a difficult call. Crime and punishment is an objectively sad topic, but as certain series have proven, they don’t all have to glorify the worst of the worst. Series like Girls Incarcerated focus on hope and opportunity as its young inmates strive for a better life. It’s absolutely a show you can put on if you’re in the mood to pop some popcorn and ease into a light-hearted examination of systematic imprisonment. That’s a very different tone than something like Inside the World’s Toughest Prisons, a hyper-intense show about the worst prisoners and, most importantly, the worst prisoners around the globe.
There are a lot of emotions to navigate, but thankfully we’re here to help. Below are six of Netflix’s best and most compelling prison and jail docuseries. We’ve broken each one down by its mood and level of intensity. As always Netflix is all about giving you options, and we’re all about helping you sort through them.
For Maximum Intensity: 'Inside the World's Toughest Prisons'
If you’re into this particular subgenre to marvel at just how different inmate life is from life outside of bars, look no further. Inside the World’s Toughest Prisons delivers on its premise.Each episode takes viewers to a different notorious prison around the world. From a Colombian prison filled with narcos dealers to the allegedly “perfect” prison in Norway, this Netflix docu-series explores the global side of incarceration.
For the Murderinos: 'I Am a Killer'
I Am a Killer is less about prison life and more about the crimes these inmates committed. This docuseries follows death row inmates convicted of capital murder as they give firsthand accounts of the crimes that cost them their lives. It’s a deeply chilling show that will probably give you at least one nightmare.
If You're Looking for Transformation: 'First and Last'
Set in Georgia’s Gwinnett County Jail, this docuseries has a beautifully simplistic premise. Each episode takes a look at a different inmate on their first and last day in jail. Some emerge from the experience more mature and conscious of the crimes they’ve committed. Some leave with an understanding that the system doesn’t work as well as they originally thought. Either way, its a fascinating series.
If You Love Piper and Alex: 'Jailbirds'
If you love Orange Is the New Black then this docuseries from executive producer Rasha Drachkovitch needs to be next on your list. The six-episode series follows a group on inmates at Sacramento County Jail. As these women wait for a new trial or to be released, they find love, pick fights, re-evaluate their lives, and have fun with each other. Start watching if you want a jail series that’s equally fun and heartfelt, but stay for the toilet talk. It’s a thing; trust us.
For a Light-Hearted Binge: 'Girls Incarcerated'
Girls Incarcerated is a bit less intense than the other shows on this list, partially because it’s not about jail at all. It’s about a juvenile detention center. The two-season series follows a group of women in Indiana’s Madison Juvenile Correctional Facility. Though there are a few hiccups and temper tantrums, almost all of the young women at the center of this docuseries graduate from juvie with a better sense of respect for themselves and a determination to not return to any sort of prison again.
When You Need Something Hopeful: 'The Confession Tapes'
Even the most uplifting prison or jail documentary is still pretty bleak. No matter how happy some inmates may be once they return to the other side, they still committed a crime and they still had to pay for that crime in a devastating way. That’s what makes The Confession Tapes so darkly addicting. The two-season Netflix docuseries follows a group of people who were coerced into giving false testimonies for crimes they didn’t commit. Even though many of these people had to go through hell to prove their innocence, hearing them discuss their hard-won innocence and freedom is as heart-breaking as it is surprisingly uplifting.
