Ep 5. Jailhouse Blues

Jailhouse Blues is the fifth episode of the fifth season of Lockup: Raw. In this episode, viewers are taken inside the maximum-security Western Correctional Institution located in Cumberland, Maryland. The episode predominantly focuses on a group of inmates, referred to as the Jailhouse Blues Band, who use music to cope with their lengthy sentences.

The episode opens with members of the Jailhouse Blues Band performing their blues-inspired music in the prison yard. The band's lead singer, an inmate named John, discusses the importance of music in his life and how it has helped him deal with the despair of being incarcerated for life. John shares that he was originally sentenced to death row but had his sentence commuted to life without parole through a series of appeals.

Throughout the episode, viewers get to know several members of the Jailhouse Blues Band and their stories. Several band members discuss the challenges of adjusting to prison life and the weight of their lengthy sentences. Despite their struggles, they find solace in their music and use it as a way to not only cope with their emotions but to also connect with other inmates.

Viewers are taken inside the prison to see the harsh realities of life behind bars, including the crowded cells, restricted movements, and strict surveillance. The episode also explores the limited ways in which inmates can communicate with their loved ones, including through video visitations.

As the episode progresses, tension builds between John and another inmate named Timmy, who is an aspiring musician but has a history of getting into trouble with prison staff. John tries to mentor Timmy in hopes of helping him stay out of trouble and further his music career. However, tensions come to a head when Timmy is involved in a physical altercation with another inmate.

The other members of the Jailhouse Blues Band also face their own struggles while in prison. One member discusses the difficulties of trying to maintain a relationship with his young daughter while incarcerated, while another band member reflects on the death of his father and the inability to attend his funeral.

Throughout the episode, Lockup: Raw provides a realistic and raw look at life inside this maximum-security prison. Viewers are shown the daily struggles that these inmates face and the ways in which they find hope and community through their music. Jailhouse Blues is a poignant and emotional episode, exploring the ways in which people can find comfort and solace in even the most difficult of circumstances.