Ever wondered what life is like behind bars without actually stepping foot inside a prison? Well, you're not alone. For those of us intrigued by the drama and action that unfolds within the confines of a correctional facility, television has become our window into this gritty world. Our list of the top TV shows about prison is crafted by passionate TV enthusiasts, dedicated to bringing you the best in the genre. Venturing beyond the standard drama and action fare, our crowd-ranked selection also welcomes comedies and even anime series that explore the intricacies of prison life. While docuseries and reality shows offer a glimpse into the harsh realities of incarceration, our list focuses on those with compelling storylines and well-developed characters that keep fans hooked. Whether you're keen on experiencing prison from the perspective of those serving time or eager to delve into spine-chilling prison stories, our curated list has you covered. From women's prisons in Orange is the New Black to the intense pursuit of freedom in Prison Break, these shows cater to a range of interests within the jail genre. Join the ranks of TV enthusiasts who have already voiced their opinions by casting their votes. This isn't just a list; it's a collective ranking by viewers like you, shaping the landscape of the best prison shows on television. So, if you're ready to weigh in on your favorite prison series, scroll through and let your voice be heard.
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When Lincoln Burrows is sentenced to death, his brother attempts to break him out and clear his name. At first Fox turned down the premise but after seeing the success of Lost and 24, decided to back the project which became one of its biggest ratings successes. Later seasons declined in popularity once the original premise was exhausted and the show turned its focus to government conspiracies.
Based on Piper Kerman's memoir, OITNB's blend of comedy and drama led to it being one of Netflix's biggest original programming successes. The Emmy award winning program takes an ensemble approach to life in a women's prison, following several characters as well as unearthing the circumstances of their backstories that led them to being incarcerated.
Unit manager Tim McManus presides over Emerald City, an experimental wing of prison that focuses on rehabilitation rather than just punishment. Though the intentions sound good, the reality of Em City is that it is a gruesome and violent place. Oz has been noted for being one of the most graphic depictions of prison life.
A reimagining of Australian soap Prisoner, Wentworth follows Bea Smith as she learns how to survivem and eventually thrive, in the prison hierarchy. The series eventually shifts to a more ensemble format, allowing outside characters to shine. Wentworth has received critical acclaim for its spot-on casting, dramatic tension, and grittiness.
The fascinating docuseries takes volunteers and places them in prisons undercover for 60 days. Each person is given a pseudonym and backstory with the intention of discovering illegal goings-on in the jail that the correctional officers and security cameras may not be catching.
The extended franchise Lockup includes Lockup: Raw, Lockup: World Tour, Lockup: Extended Stay, Lockup: Disturbing the Peace, Lockup: Special Investigation, and Life After Lockup. It explores the prison system throughout the United States while profiling notable inmates, circumstances, or events. The series lasted 25 seasons.
Prisoner was the first Australian series to feature a primarily female-dominated cast. The soap opera is set in fictional Wentworth Detention Centre and inspired the series Wentworth.
Receiving five Emmy awards out of 13 nominations, The Night Of received critical acclaim upon its airing. The miniseries is based on British counterpart Criminal Justice and stars John Turturro, Riz Ahmed, and Michael K. Williams. The story centers on Pakistani-American college student Naz Khan, who after a night of drugs and partying, awakens to find a woman dead in the room and the murder weapon in his pocket.
After looking at the success of Within These Walls and Prisoner, ITV commissioned Bad Girls. The creators spent months beforehand traveling to different prisons, leading to the show being more realistic and more graphic than ones that came before.
One of the oldest shows on this list, Hogan's Heroes is a sitcom from the 1960s that ran for six seasons. Combining popular TV genre trends of its day like wartime, camp comedy, and spy, the series centers around Allied prisoners of war in a Nazi POW camp.
Jimmy Keane is facing ten years in prison without parole. Instead, he accepts a deal promising to elicit a confession out of a suspected serial killer. Based on true events, the Apple+ original received critical acclaim for its storytelling and moral complexity.
Directed by Ben Stiller, the seven episode series is based on the true story of the 2015 Clinton Correctional Facility escape. Convicted murderers, played by Paul Dano and Benicio del Toro, are aided in escaping by a prison guard played by Patricia Arquette.
The two season docuseries chronicles the story of Steven Avery and tangentially, Brendan Dassey, as they were accused of the murder of Teresa Halbach. The slow burn series garnered critical acclaim for putting the justice system under a microscope, although some argued it was a one-sided affair.
In Beyond Scared Straight, troubled teens deemed at risk of falling into the criminal system are taken to prisons to see what life is like inside. They interact with prisoners, officers, and even eat the assigned meals. The success rate of the program was spotty at best, with some deciding to change their ways while others kept going down the wrong path.
Season one of Girls Incarcerated tells the story of adolescents at Madison Juvenile Correctional Facility while season two shifts to LaPorte Juvenile. A coming-of-age docuseries, the girls on the show openly struggle with the circumstances of their lives and reveal how their upbringing meant the deck was always stacked against them.
Produced by J.J. Abrams, Alcatraz is one of the few shows on this list with a magical element. After Alcatraz was shut down in 1963 due to a sudden disappearance of all people in the facility, the prisoners and guards of that time period suddenly reappear in modern day San Francisco and have to be tracked down. They have not aged and have mysterious unknown motivations for their actions.
Most episodes of Locked Up Abroad feature traffickers who happened to get caught. Utilizing a mix of interviews and reenactments, the series portrays the events leading up to being arrested as well as time in jail.
Jail is brought to you by the same production team as the wildly popular Cops and traced the path of suspected criminals through the process of being incarcerated, from booking to prison life. Most notably, the booking of O.J. Simpson was featured in a 2008 episode.
In 1991, Isaac Wright Jr. was sentenced to prison for a crime he did not commit. He became an attorney while incarcerated and helped to overturn the cases of 20 of his fellow inmates before freeing himself. The series For Life tells a dramatized version of Wright's incredible story.
Breakout Kings came from some of the same minds as Prison Break and an appearance by Prison Break character Theodore "T-Bag" Bagwell implies a shared world. Breakout Kings follows a specialized task force whose objective is to capture escaped prisoners. Current imprisoned convicts are offered a chance to help for lowered time or a transfer to a lower security facility.
