Lockup Extended Stay Season 25 Episode 5 Back in Orange

Lockup: San Quentin- Extended Stay is a gripping documentary series that delves into the day-to-day experiences of prisoners and staff at one of America’s most infamous correctional facilities. Season 25, episode 5, titled "Back in Orange," offers viewers a window into the realities of reentry, as several former inmates return to San Quentin for an annual event.

The episode opens with shots of the prison yard, a desolate expanse of concrete and barbed wire, as voice-over explains that San Quentin is one of the only California prisons to have programs specifically designed to help inmates prepare for life after release. We see footage of a classroom, where a group of men in jumpsuits sit hunched over textbooks and notepads, as a teacher drones on about job interview skills.

The camera then cuts to a group of four men, all of whom have been released from San Quentin within the last year, as they make their way back to the prison for the annual event known as "Returning Hearts." One of the men is named Jason, and we hear him reflect on his own transition back to society, which he describes as a "rollercoaster ride." He struggled to find a job and landed in a halfway house before finally getting back on his feet.

The other three men are named Jose, Mario, and Eddie. Like Jason, they have all faced challenges in adjusting to life after incarceration. Eddie, in particular, talks about the stigma ex-cons face, saying that "people look at us like we're Monsters Inc." He also opens up about a recent brush with the law, which he says was a wakeup call.

The group arrives at San Quentin, and we see them walking through the gates they once walked out of, back into the prison where they spent so many years. The Returning Hearts event is a chance for inmates to connect with their families and loved ones, many of whom they haven't seen in years. The four men are each paired with a current inmate who acts as their "sponsor" for the day.

We see Jason being introduced to his sponsor, a young man with a broad smile and a shaved head. They exchange a few awkward pleasantries before heading off to meet Jason's mother and sister, who have made the trip from out of state to see him. Jose meets his sponsor in the prison chapel, a somber space filled with sunlight streaming through stained glass windows. Mario and Eddie are paired with their sponsors and set off to explore the grounds.

Throughout the day, we see the men reconnecting with their families and sharing stories with their sponsors. There are hugs and tears and laughter. We hear from one sponsor, a man named Kevin, who recounts his own experience of being released from San Quentin almost two decades ago. He says he was lucky to have a support system in place, but that many inmates aren't so fortunate.

As the day wears on, the returning men start to feel the weight of their pasts. Jose, who has been out of prison for the longest of the four, talks about how hard it is to come back to San Quentin. "It's like coming back to a place where you're scarred," he says. "It brings back memories, and it's not all good." Eddie, who earlier in the day seemed lighthearted and upbeat, becomes visibly emotional as he talks about the challenges he's faced since his release.

The episode concludes with the men saying goodbye to their sponsors and heading back out through the gates of San Quentin. We hear from one of the sponsors, who says he hopes that the returning men found some solace in being back inside the prison. "It's not about the crime they committed," he says. "It's about the human being."

Overall, "Back in Orange" is a powerful look at the struggles faced by formerly incarcerated individuals as they try to rebuild their lives. It's also a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, as we see the returning men finding moments of joy and connection even in the midst of difficult memories and painful emotions.