New Seasons of A&E's 60 DAYS IN & BEHIND BARS to Premiere This Month

By: Aug. 03, 2016
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Cable's #1 new non-fiction series 60 DAYS IN following innocent civilians posing as inmates, returns for season two with a two hour premiere event on Thursday, August 18 at 9PM and 10PM ET/PT on A&E. The next week, A&E's original docuseries BEHIND BARS: ROOKIE YEAR following correctional officers during their first year on the job, premieres its second season on Thursday, August 25 at 10PM ET/PT. Both series are produced by Lucky 8 TV.

On the new season of "60 Days In," cable's #1 new non-fiction series among total viewers and adults 25-54 and 18-49, Sheriff Jamey Noel of the Clark County Jail has chosen eight new innocent participants with an interest in the criminal justice system to enter the prison program for a deeper dive into the drugs, violence and internal corruption exposed during season one.

More than one hundred cameras will capture unparalleled access around-the-clock, documenting the participants' every move as they live among the facility's general population without anyone knowing their secret. "60 Days In" gives viewers a first-hand look at the dangerous world of incarceration as the participants adapt to terrifying new surroundings and aim to shed light on local and national issues within our corrections system. The Clark County Jail in Indiana houses approximately 500 prisoners; from inmates charged with drug dealing, to first-time offenders, to capital murder.

"Behind Bars: Rookie Year" zeros in on the New Mexico Corrections Department, one of the most notoriously dangerous prison systems in the country, where rookie correctional officers (COs) are just beginning their first year on the job. They join a prison system that holds over 7,000 inmates but is managed by less than 1,000 correction officers. Intensifying the situation, one of the most influential prison gangs, Syndicato de Nuevo Mexico (SNM), has declared war on law enforcement. Foot soldiers on the front lines against SNM and other ruthless gangs, these rookies discover drug lines into the facility, intercept communications from the outside and confront hit plans on the Secretary of Corrections Gregg Marcantel and an attack on rookie officer Aaron Purto. The STAKES for these rookies are higher than ever and any mistake could be deadly.

In the season 2 premiere the series expands its territory to Southern New Mexico Correctional Facility, a prison that has seen two murders in the last 18 months among its inmates, 85% of whom are involved in gangs within the compound. There, Lilly Rodriguez has wanted to be in law enforcement ever since she was a kid but is consistently underestimated for her size; she stands at five feet tall, 102 pounds and is required to wear a child-sized stab vest. At the Western New Mexico facility, CO Christian Sandoval recently gave up a rodeo scholarship for a steadier paycheck but questions his decision when he is tasked with overseeing level 3 inmates; the majority of whom have life sentences and nothing to lose. And at the Penitentiary of New Mexico featured in season 1, COs Andrew Cordova, Cohen Mangin and the seemingly meek Ariel Montoya become more confident in their positions.

"60 Days In" is produced by Lucky 8 TV for A&E Network. Executive producers for Lucky 8 TV are Gregory Henry, Kimberly Woodard, Isaac Holub and Jeff Grogan. Executive producers for A&E Networks are Elaine Frontain Bryant, Shelly Tatro, Drew Tappon and Brad Holcman.

"Behind Bars: Rookie Year" is produced by Lucky 8 TV for A&E Network. Executive producers for Lucky 8 TV are Gregory Henry, Kimberly Woodard, Isaac Holub and Jon Hirsch. Executive producers for A&E Networks are Drew Tappon and Brad Holcman.

About A&E Network A&E leads the cultural conversation through high-quality, thought provoking original programming with a unique point of view. Whether it's the network's distinctive brand of award-winning disruptive reality, groundbreaking documentary, or premium scripted drama, A&E always makes entertainment an art. The A&E website is located at aetv.com. Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/aetv and Facebook at facebook.com/AETV.

Image courtesy of A&E



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