Volunteers jailed for TV show

SEVEN volunteers spent up to two months undercover in one of America’s most troubled prisons for a reality television programme recording their every move.

The 12-part series, 60 Days In, began on US network A&E last week, attracting excited reviews as well as fears over the potential risks for the fake inmates.

The show, which finished filming in December, was conceived by Jamey Noel, the sheriff of Clark County in Indiana, who had tried and failed to clean up a county jail with a reputation for corruption. His innovative solution was to use his own moles. “The only way to truly understand what was going on was to introduce innocent participants to the system to provide firsthand, unbiased intelligence,” he said.

Only a handful of officials knew the truth and prisoners were told the cameras were for a documentary about first-time offenders.

Critics have described the show as compelling, but also questioned its motives. Brian Lowry, of Variety, wrote: “While authorities might have benefited, there’s a nagging sense [it has] more to do with 15 minutes of fame.”