Plot Synopsis

60 DAYS IN is a one-hour reality series that follows a group of innocent people who spend 60 days living among the general population at a county jail, where they try to expose internal issues and reveal what really happens behind bars.Around-the-clock cameras captured their experiences in an effort to bring problems to light and give viewers a first-hand look as the participants adapt to unfamiliar and terrifying surroundings.

In Season 1, as a result of the facility's recent corrupt history, Clark County Sheriff Jamey Noel has devised a program that puts a small group of participants -- who have never been charged with a crime or done time -- in jail without officers, fellow inmates, or staff knowing their secret. The seven participants in Season 1 are: Maryum, a social worker and eldest daughter of boxer Muhammad Ali, who's fighting to put an end to gang violence; Zac, a conservative ex-Marine who hopes the experience will help him in his journey to becoming a DEA agent; Tami, a police officer who has arrested hundreds of people wanted to better understand what life is like on the other side; Jeff, a security guard for many years who is ready to take the next step in his career to become a corrections officer; Isaiah, who feels like a part of him was ripped away when his older brother was locked up and wants to experience what his brother is going through; Robert, a teacher who wants to use this experience to teach his students about the ramifications of their choices; and Barbra, a military wife and mother of two young children who feels that prisoners have it too easy behind bars.

On Thursday, August 18, 2016 at 9pm ET/PT, A&E premiered the second season of 60 DAYS IN with a two-hour premiere event. In Season 2, Sheriff Jamey Noel of the Clark County Jail has chosen eight new innocent participants with an interest in the criminal justice system to enter the prison program for a deeper dive into the drugs, violence and internal corruption exposed during the new season. These people will go into the jail as undercover inmates to help the Sheriff further understand how drugs and contraband are getting into the facility. His work to finally clean up the jail isn't finished yet. The eight participants in Season 2 are: Ashleigh, whose alcohol addiction was out of control as a teenager and has been sober for four years, but now expects to meet other women with stories similar to her own and would like to help those inmates who are struggling with addiction; Brian, an attorney with a west coast based Department of Corrections Legal Affairs' Prosecution Team, who sees a limited side of the corrections system and wants the opportunity to interact with the COs as an inmate instead of a lawyer; Chris, whose younger brother got arrested at a young age and now wants to see firsthand what incarceration looks like for someone like his brother, who made one wrong decision at a young age and paid a hefty price inside of jail and after coming out; Dion, who has been studying the criminal justice system for almost six years, but thinks time behind bars would teach him more than all his classes combined; Monalisa, who feels guilt because her daughter is serving a ten-year mandatory prison sentence and who wants to be able to relate to her daughter as she finishes out her sentence, so has decided to spend time behind bars; Quintin, a recently retired State Police Captain currently working as a licensed private investigator and bounty hunter, who would like to come full circle and understand the fate he has sentenced to so many; Ryan, who started the application process to become a police officer and who believes hat what he sees behind bars will greatly affect the kind of officer he becomes; and Sheri, who spent two years as a corrections officer at a maximum-security state prison and who wants to learn how other officers operate to determine how she did on the job, and ways she can work more safely and be better at her job in the future.

Season 3 of 60 DAYS IN premiered on Thursday, March 2, 2017 at 9pm ET/PT on A&E. Seasons 3 & 4 take place at one of the most dangerous facilities in the country. With five times the number of inmates as previous seasons, rampant drug problems, a powerful gang population and the constant threat of violence, innocent participants plunge deeper into this dangerous world of incarceration. The two groups of participants were shot in back-to-back phases and will air over two seasons. Season 3 consists of nine undercover participants who enter the program to gain a deeper understanding of the criminal justice system. The Fulton County Jail, led by Chief Jailer Colonel Mark C. Adger, is plagued with rival gangs, drugs, and corruption. After learning about the tremendous success of the previous undercover programs in Clark County, Indiana, Colonel Adger, decided to use innocent civilians to help him expose the root of these issues, while providing an unbiased perspective of life inside his facility. The participants who infiltrate the jail in Season 3 include: Calvin, a special education teacher who works with at risk youth; Don, a man who believes that the system has failed African Americans and Hispanics and wants to help fight discrimination; Jessica, who met her husband while he was incarcerated and hopes to understand his institutionalized behavior; Jon, who worked for the Department of Justice as a U.S. Marshal and a Detention Enforcement Officer for the Immigration and Naturalization service for four years; Matt, a former Marine, who wants to shed a light on the lack of resources for addicts inside; Mauri, a former corrections officer who wants to see what it is like when the roles are reversed; Michelle, a property manager who became interested in criminal justice when the crime rate started to surge in her own neighborhood; and Nate, a former Marine, who argues prisons should be more militaristic and less flexible when it comes to inmate liberties. Unlike previous seasons, male and female participants will be separated in two different facilities; men will be housed in the main campus where they share a cell with one other inmate, while females will be in cell-bunk form with seven other inmates. The participants are on lockdown with their cell mates for over 15 hours a day and face immense pressure to fit in or risk being the target of threats, violence or their having covers blown.

The fourth season of 60 DAYS IN premiered on Monday, January 1, 2018 at 9pm ET/PT on A&E, as the series returns to Atlanta's Fulton County Jail with a two-hour premiere kicking off the explosive new season in one of the most dangerous facilities in the country. Nine participants go undercover, posing as inmates, for a deeper understanding of the criminal justice system and to help evoke change within the facility. This season, one of the participants goes "full inmate," blowing their cover and turning the entire program on its head. Faced with rampant drug problems, a powerful gang population and the constant threat of violence, innocent participants plunge deeper into the dangerous world of incarceration. In the two-hour season opener, "The Beginning of the End," with two participants already inside the jail and three more entering, phase two shatters expectations, opens old wounds, and puts everyone's safety in jeopardy. The new season of 60 DAYS IN debuted on Monday, January 1 with a two-hour premiere, followed by a new two-hour episode on Thursday, January 4. New one-hour episodes premiere at 10pm on Thursdays, beginning January 11.

Season 5 of 60 DAYS IN premiered on Thursday, January 3, 2019 at 10pm ET/PT on A&E. In the new season, Sheriff Mark Lamb of the Pinal County Sheriff's Office in Arizona carefully selected seven innocent people to go undercover for a deep dive into the inner workings of his facility. Unlike in past seasons, the participants - ranging from a police officer, a private investigator and even an ex-Latin King turned minister -, were given specific missions by the sheriff. In a jail with problems stemming from drugs, gangs and operational issues, Sheriff Lamb assigned separate objectives based on each individual's skill sets and interests, in order to best help the facility uncover flaws and evoke change. Prior to going in, six of the participants met and trained with one another, leaving only one to enter on his own and operate as a "lone wolf" on the sheriff's behalf. Throughout their time in jail, the participants faced growing suspicions and violent threats, but they were deeply committed to fulfilling their missions. In an unexpected turn, one rogue participant threatened to blow the whole program, leaving their fellow participants in an extremely dangerous position. Season 5 participants included: private investigator Steve; Brooke, the family member of an addict; police officer David, who explores the drug scene inside the jail; ex-convict and former gang member Abner; radio personality Jazmyn, who spent six years in the military; Vivian, who spent five years in the Navy and nine years in the Army; and Mark, a former corrections officer and military intelligence officer.

60 DAYS IN returned for its sixth season on Thursday, January 2, 2020 at 10pm ET/PT on A&E. This season, more participants struggle to survive the intense program and are forced to quit the program early, as the newly elected Sheriff takes over one of the worst facilities the series has ever seen. After two decades, the Etowah County Detention Center in Alabama is under new management and the newly elected Sheriff is determined to make a change. In his first week, he decided to shakedown the facility and in one day alone, found more than 200 broken door locks, drugs and removed more than two tons of contraband. With no time to lose, Sheriff Horton along with Chief Peek and select members of their team have agreed to embed innocent participants to uncover the issues that plague the facility. This season, the participants will face the biggest challenge of their lives in an effort to rid a jail, that is in dire need of help, of contraband and corruption before it is too late. In the season opener, "Should Have Stayed a Fan," when newly-elected Sheriff Jonathan W. Horton takes office and finds his jail in dire need of reform, he enlists the help of seven innocent civilians to go undercover as inmates to uncover intel on the issues that plague the facility in order to clean up the Etowah County Detention Center.

On Thursday, August 18, 2022 at 9pm ET/PT, A&E premiered the seventh season of 60 DAYS IN. Season 7 locks down Henry County Jail in Georgia just outside of Atlanta which can house approximately 800 inmates. The recently elected Sheriff Reginald Scandrett, who came in on a platform of improving the jail and reducing recidivism, is enlisting seven formerly incarcerated participants to go undercover in an effort to find valuable information to help improve jail conditions. For the first time in the series' history, all participants have previously been arrested for crimes of their own and collectively have served more than 40 years behind bars. Will these formerly incarcerated participants be able to survive everything thrown their way during the voluntary stint in jail or will the challenges of going back behind bars be too much for them to handle? In the season opener, "Re-Incarcerated," Reginald B. Scandrett is the first African American Sheriff presiding over the Henry County Jail, where a new breed of participants enter the program and encounter unprecedented challenges.

On Thursday, June 15 at 9pm ET/PT, A&E premiered the eighth season of 60 DAYS IN, featuring everyday citizens who volunteer to go behind bars at the Pitt County Detention Center. Led by Sheriff Paula S. Dance, the state's first female African American Sheriff, the program strives to help unearth problems within the facility and bring about positive change. After an inmate recently overdosed from drugs and much of her command staff retiring, Sheriff Dance is looking to make sure the new team and protocols they have in place are providing the proper groundwork to keep the jail a safe place for both inmates and staff. Once embedded in the facility, the participants quickly realize that the conditions are too much to bear, forcing Sheriff Dance to take drastic measures to save the program.

Season 9 of 60 DAYS IN debuted on Thursday, May 30, 2024 at 9pm ET/PT on A&E. This season, seven participants voluntarily go undercover in the Utah County Jail to shed light on an influx of drugs, contraband and gang activity to help the Sheriff identify issues and create positive change for both inmates and staff. The Utah County Jail, one of the largest in the state, is run by Sheriff Mike Smith who was elected in 2018 and is currently serving his second 4-year term as the Utah County Sheriff. Prior to entering the facility, Sheriff Smith introduces the participants to one another so that once booked, they can work as a team to complete their missions. For the first time, a new rule is enacted that once you give the distress signal, you will be pulled out of the program. With no time for second chances or moments of weakness, the fearless participants, each with their own personal motives, make a pact to not quit the program early and to do whatever it takes to expose the flaws in the system.
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On Thursday, August 29, 2024 from 9-11pm ET/PT, A&E debuted "Top 50 of 60," a two-hour 60 DAYS IN special. For nine seasons, 60 DAYS IN has sent brave participants undercover in some of America's most dangerous jails. This special counts down the top 50 participants to ever get locked up for the 60 DAYS IN program!