Netflix has released the second season of its true crime series Unlocked: A Jail Experiment, following inmates at Pinal County Jail in Arizona as they are given increased freedom to self-govern over six weeks. The unscripted show captures genuine interactions and rivalries among the prisoners, though Sheriff Eric Higgins noted that facilities are never completely without staff.
Pinal County Sheriff Ross Teeple, who took over from predecessor Mark Lamb, agreed to allow a documentary crew into the jail. The experiment granted inmates unprecedented control over daily life, though Teeple admitted to inmaricopa.com that there were moments he considered shutting it down due to risks. He hopes the series sparks discussion about prison operations nationwide.
Inmate Ronald 'AO' Dunmire, frequently placed in solitary confinement for disrespecting correctional officers, has since transformed his life. Currently at Arizona State Prison Complex, he works as a groundskeeper and has enrolled in work and self-improvement classes to control his anger and reintegrate into society for his children.
Woody, a 40-year-old inmate at Lewis Corrections Department, fell into drug abuse but has achieved sobriety. He has reconnected with his family and taken various prison jobs while serving a nine-year sentence. Ronald 'Irish' Stricklett, in his 60s, is serving time until November 2026 at Lewis Corrections and has joined work assignments including the New Beginnings Through Peers programme.
Shane 'Hondo' Tipton discussed his addiction struggle in the series, emphasising that progress required self-discipline and a conscious decision to take charge of his life.
