10 Prison Documentaries That Get Way More Real Than OITNB Ever Does

Paul Connolly — an Irish investigative journalist, radio personality, and documentary maker — takes viewers on tours inside the most frightening prisons in the world. Connolly demonstrates what living conditions are for the inmates, as well as the guards, changing the way you think about prison forever.

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Rather than tracking the day-to-day life experiences of prisoners, this docuseries offers a heartbreaking look at the two most pivotal days for individuals at Georgia's Gwinnett County Jail — their first day and their last. First and Last can be tough to watch at moments, as emotionally wrenching as it is, but few shows provide better insight into the American criminal justice system.

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Though usually you don't think of teenage girl when you think of prisoners, this docuseries does just that, profiling various young women incarcerated at a juvenile correctional facility in Madison, IN. From romances to celebrating milestones and to breaking down emotional walls, this show is far more tender than you may expect from a prison documentary.

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Narrated by Susan Sarandon and formatted as a "how-to" handbook, this 2018 documentary features interviews with former inmates, police officers, court officials, lawyers, and journalists as they discuss life behind bars and the injustices of the prison system. The film largely focuses on two wrongly convicted men, Reggie Cole and Bruce Lisker, and their story.

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The focus of this 2016 documentary is incarcerated young men, following three juvenile prisoners as they participate in a screenwriting class at Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall in Los Angeles while awaiting trial. Rather than portraying the grimness of life behind bars, this refreshing documentary actually introduces the idea of reform and second chances.

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