One of the best television stations for premiering reality crime shows is A&E, with series such as Dog the Bounty Hunter and Court Cam. In 2016, they premiered a fresh new reality series called 60 Days In. 60 Days In joins the list of great TV shows set in prisons, sending seven participants into prisons as undercover inmates to uncover issues that officers are missing.
The program is kept a secret from inmates and most prison staff under the cover that the series is about the jail and its inmates. The participants are given pseudonyms and cover stories and are trained to interact with the inmates. With a concept like this, you can guarantee that there have been some wild moments in 60 Days In.
While the series explores the faults in the prison-industrial complex throughout its nine-season run, it also blurs that line between reality TV and exploitation in a way that either thrills or deters fans. Still, with so many tuning in, it has proven to be a winning formula, and here are all the seasons of 60 Days In, ranked.
Season Nine
Utah County Jail, Utah
Season nine took place at the Utah County Jail in Utah, which was known for its clear daily operations. The participants here tried to capitalize on past seasons, bringing in some familiar faces among the new ones. The season offered a unique insight into the prison system compared to previous seasons, depicting inmate behavior through the day-to-day operations of a well-organized facility.
Yet predictability is hardly the place for drama, and the prison system’s strict structure meant it was light on suspense and memorable moments compared to previous ones. The innocent prisoners who volunteered were given an easier ride through the 60s Days than previously, and it just did not really click with audiences. It is a shame that season nine remains the last of the program, as it is also the weakest, with many fans bluntly calling it boring.
Season Eight
Pitt County Detention Center, North Carolina
Season eight was filmed at the Pitt County Detention Center in North Carolina, known for its strict structure and enforcement of rules. The participants for the season were an enjoyable mix bag, including law enforcement professionals and civilians, which led to varied interactions throughout and some expected tense moments.
Despite being so many seasons in, this one seemed not to really find its pacing. Here, the pacing and cohesiveness felt muddled due to editing, and not all participants fully integrated into the prison culture. There was just a lack of depth here, and a lot of the drama seemed forced or edited. The outcome speaks to the unpredictable nature of the format; you can’t always expect similar outcomes from previous seasons.
Season One
Clark County Jail, Indiana
Season one set a precedent for what the show was and what fans could expect: an honest insight into what life in jail is like. This season was filmed in the Clark County Jail in Indiana. Clark County proved to be a rough jail for both men and women. Notably, the men saw overcrowding in their pods.
This season had a mix of participants, including law enforcement, a recent high school graduate, and Maryum “May May” Ali (Daughter of the legendary boxer Muhammad Ali). At the time, it was a bold experiment, and it certainly had its moments, but later seasons would focus more on realism and better integrate the participants. The first season was criticized for feeling staged through editing and for the varying effectiveness of its cast in integrating.
Season Six
Etowah County Detention Center, Alabama
Season six was filmed in Etowah County Detention Center in Alabama. This was a rough jail, and the season featured law enforcement professionals, including Ashley, Tony, and Donovan, stepping in as participants to ensure safety. Indeed, this made sense, as it remained one of the worst jails ever featured on the show.
The investigation made the COs (correctional officers) look horrible, including one participant who found multiple shanks during his stay. There were numerous fights during the season, including one with a broom, and some participants had to be immediately pulled due to the fear of violence with covers being blown. This was an explosive season with a lot of drama, which normally makes for the best reality TV, but so many participants dropping out early made it less effective overall.
Season Five
Pinal County Detention Center, Arizona
Season five was filmed in the Pinal County Detention Center in Arizona. The male section of this jail saw a massive racial divide and a lot of fights. One of the main reasons to watch this season was for ex-convict and ex-Latin King, Abner, who became the enforcer of his pod. The COs were very aggressive in this season, and at times, you felt for the inmates.
The series featured a clearer set of objectives, but this ultimately led to a more mixed reception. Notably, many felt it went too far into the reality-TV realm rather than offering an insightful look into the prison. By the end, there were no clear results about the prison, and it felt more like a game of survival or a role-playing exercise. There is a reason this one lands dab in the middle: some loved the season’s format, others didn’t.
Season Seven
Henry County Jail, Georgia
Season seven was filmed at the Henry County Jail in Georgia and featured only ex-convicts. Although other seasons included ex-convicts, this was the first to have every participant serve some time. What also made this season different was that it was filmed during the pandemic. This meant that upon entering the jail, the inmates were immediately quarantined in their cells for what was practically solitary confinement, and forced a lot of contestants to drop out.
Still, the season was fascinating in its portrayal of confinement, with some participants reverting to their old ways under the additional stresses of the situation. Season seven is unforgettable; the pandemic added a certain intensity, and it offered a view of prison life entirely unique to the period. For those who dealt with the pandemic through film or TV, it became an oddly comforting watch. However, limited interaction and the need for participants to drop out early held the season back a bit from offering the full experience fans had come to expect.
Season Three
Fulton County Jail, Atlanta, Georgia
Season three was filmed at Atlanta’s Fulton County Jail and highlighted many of the prison’s issues. Notably, it showed how quickly gang mentality can set in, as even some of the participants found themselves drawn into the culture. The season had a lot of troublemakers and would even show new events in prison, such as what a mass evacuation drill looks like.
The season thrived on raw, unpredictable interactions that extended beyond the inmates to the participants. As far as capturing prison culture goes, season three is arguably the best. Yet the participants were less memorable overall than in other seasons, and leaning into the chaos led the show to fall short in its emotional exploration of life in prison.
Season Two
Clark County Jail, Indiana
Season two was filmed in Clark County Jail under Sheriff Jamey Noel. This season was similar to the first but featured Ashleigh Barker, the wife of first-season participant Zac Baker, which gave an interesting look inside the family dynamic when one parent is in prison. This season was filled with a lot of drama in the girls’ dorm, including a returning “snitch.”
Here, some familiarity with the prison and the inclusion of participants connected to the first season flowed perfectly; the kinks from the inaugural season were also starting to be worked out, delivering a more polished piece of reality TV. Season two remains the most relatable, especially through its exploration of social tensions, secrets, and alliances within the girls’ dorm room. There is still, however, one season where everything came together much better.
Season Four
Fulton County Jail, Atlanta, Georgia
Season four is the best for both the men and the women participants. Filmed in Fulton County Jail in Atlanta, Georgia, under Colonel Mark Adger. This season showed the making of prison alcohol, different ways inmates get high, and even offered up a prison romance. This season was also the first to feature one volunteer, U.S. Marine Nate Burrell, in two seasons. Nate did so well during season three that producers asked if he would stay another 60 days.
Season four feels the most layered and complete, from the return of a previous participant to the various elements of prison life it touches on. It has what you want from the show: a memorable cast, emotional depth, and moments of suspense. While all the seasons have their ups and downs, four is great from start to finish, and an easy pick for the best season of 60 Days In.
Let us know what your favorite season or moment of 60 Days In is, and why you think the show remains popular even after ending its last season in 2024.
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