Netflix has released the second season of its true crime series Unlocked: A Jail Experiment, which follows inmates in a correctional facility given increased freedom to self-govern. The show documents a six-week period where selected prisoners establish their own rules, capturing authentic interactions and rivalries.
Pinal County Sheriff Ross Teeple, who took over from predecessor Mark Lamb, spearheaded the experiment. He admitted to inmaricopa.com that there were moments during filming when he considered shutting it down due to risks. Teeple hopes the series will spark broader discussions about prison operations, stating: 'At the end of the day, this was an experiment we tried, we learned from, and that will make our jail safer for staff and inmates.'
Among the inmates featured is Ronald 'AO' Dunmire, who frequently ended up in solitary confinement for disrespecting correctional officers. He has since enrolled in work and self-improvement courses, aiming to reintegrate into society and spend time with his four children. Another inmate, Woody, fell into drug use after his marriage ended but has achieved sobriety while serving a nine-year sentence at Lewis Corrections Department.
Ronald 'Irish' Stricklett, in his sixties, is incarcerated at the same facility until November 2026. He has signed up for work programmes including the New Beginnings Through Peers scheme, expressing a desire to embrace his new outlook. Shane 'Hondo' Tipton shared his personal battle with addiction, emphasising that progress came through self-discipline.
Pulaski County Sheriff Eric Higgins, creator of the original series, clarified to Tudum that the facilities are never entirely unmanned, despite the show's premise of unsupervised inmates.
