Lockup: Women Behind Bars Season 1 Episode 1 Tennesse Women's Prison

Lockup: Women Behind Bars is a documentary series that takes a unique look inside the female prison system. In season 1 episode 1, titled Tennessee Women's Prison, the viewers are introduced to the inmates and staff of the Tennessee Prison for Women, a maximum-security facility in Nashville.

The episode starts by showcasing the lockdown protocols followed by the prison officials. The inmates are taken to a recreational yard that is equipped with a phone booth. Only one inmate can use the phone booth at a time and those who need to make a call must sign up for a slot.

The show then shifts its focus to the inmates themselves, providing a glimpse into their day-to-day lives. We meet Cynthia, who is serving time for robbery. She shares her story with the viewers, detailing how she robbed a convenience store with her boyfriend to buy drugs. Cynthia is a mother of two and is worried about what her incarceration means for her kids. She talks about missing them and the pain of not being able to see them.

Next, we meet Trouble, a woman who is serving a life sentence for killing her husband. Trouble is soft spoken but has a fiery side to her personality. She talks about how her marriage was plagued by abuse and how she couldn't take it anymore. Her story is one of survival and the consequences that follow.

Then, the show introduces us to Susan, whose story is quite different from the others. Susan was sentenced to 52 years for a white-collar crime. The lens shifts to her routine and how she is navigating through a new environment, very different from the corporate world she is accustomed to. Susan shares her experiences through journals that she documents.

Throughout this episode, the viewer is shown how the institution has a rigid class system based on seniority and the type of crime committed. Women who commit violent crimes are viewed with suspicion and hostility by their peers, while non-violent offenders are given more leeway.

We also get to meet some of the officers who work at the prison, giving us a window into their experiences and the challenges they face. The prison officers talk about the emotional toll their job takes on them, in particular when they are escorting an inmate to the death chamber.

One aspect that stands out in this episode is the friendship between the inmates. They offer support to each other, especially in times where one of them experiences a loss of life or is having a particularly difficult time.

Overall, the first episode of Lockup: Women Behind Bars provides an in-depth look into the lives of the inmates who call Tennessee Women's Prison their home. It takes a unique and critical approach to the American penal system, offering a rare window into what life is like for incarcerated women. This is a must-watch for anyone interested in understanding the challenges and realities faced by those behind bars.