Summary
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Unlocked: A Jail Experiment
, Netflix’s latest docuseries, follows a controversial jail experiment that impacts inmates like never before. - Not all inmates benefited from the experiment, sparking negative feedback from the political realm.
- Sheriff Higgings from Arkansas has been accused of overstepping legal boundaries to bring the series to light.
The latest docuseries from Netflix is a controversial idea brought on by a sheriff who had everything to lose and a group of 46 detainees who strived to grow their once locked-up life into a community. With this movement either signaling a significant new beginning for those behind bars or instead just giving an even worse reputation to America’s incarceration system, a result was expected in six weeks’ time. In Netflix’s Unlocked: A Jail Experiment, an eight-episode journey takes viewers into a strange experiment where, as the title says, the key is thrown away, the doors are wide open, and those in prison prove themselves more than ever before. Sheriff Eric Higgins always wondered how he could put a unique kind of responsibility into a detainee’s hands, and that all began with unlocking cells.
While this new environment positively impacted the likes of Randy Randall, Krisna Piro “Tiny” Clarke, and Chauncey Young – now in varying degrees of positive betterment – not every inmate’s “arc” ended happily. Whether it was an obnoxious attitude that never changed, such as in David Miller or a man nicknamed Weekley, who could not shake his bad habit of cheating (and was beaten down because of it), being in jail obviously tends to bring out the worse side of people as well.
Besides these differing personalities entertaining audiences, there seems to be a negative reception to this Netflix documentary series in the political world. Allegedly, Sheriff Higgins helped to make Unlocked: A Jail Experiment a reality by ignoring certain protocols and misunderstanding legal terms for the show’s benefit. As there is still a long road ahead to determine what methods were taken to bring this series to light, none of the following is final; it only assesses the current situation.
The Controversial Legality Behind Unlocked: A Jail Experiment
One of the most notable allegations behind Unlocked comes from the collective group of Pulaski’s elected officials. They all stated that they had no idea that the Netflix exclusive was happening until they saw the trailer. Those who have made public statements, captured by THV11, include Chief Roy Baker of the state’s First Responders Bureau and Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who agree this decision was reckless and dangerous.
This is a reckless decision by the Pulaski County Sheriff and highlights the need for our new state prison to keep repeat violent offenders off our streets and our communities safe.
Baker’s opinion and position are firm, claiming that no inmate should ever feel as though they have free rein—no matter how little physical freedom there is. While these opinions all stand on the merit and reputation of the individual who expresses them, the next startling accusations escalate the situation to another level entirely.
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One would imagine that the rich and famous get to spend their happily-ever-afters free and enjoying lavish lifestyles. Alas, such is not the case.
According to a Pulaski County judge named Barry Hyde (who also functions as the administrator and county’s chief), the sheriff who helped formulate this true crime reality series stepped out of his range of legal power to do so. According to Hyde, the only person who can sign off on a legally binding contract with the county is himself and no one else, including Higgins. Hyde even says that Higgins brought the show pitch to him over two years ago, but because of the legalese that came with such a reality series, nothing ever came to fruition. In response to this claim, in an interview with the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, the county sheriff said that the document was a location release form – the same that is used for other shows that depict the same situations, like Inside World’s Toughest Prisons and BeyondScared Straight.
Talking to the Courts and the Public After Unlocked: A Jail Experiment
With the location release released publicly by the sheriff’s office, it seems like Sheriff Eric Higgins is showing all that he can – to the entire world – his only intention in the matter. In the first week of April (also a week before Unlocked premiered), he had to answer 40 questions from the County Quorum Court, noted by THV11, about everything concerning the making of the series. These inquiries shed light on such things as the exact time of filming, how much was paid and to whom, and what Netflix meant when the slogan “no locks and no officers” was used when marketing the production.
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Speaking at a question and answer event to a packed audience at a NAACP event, Sheriff Higgins seems to be doing all he can to calm those who are riled up. Throughout all this controversy, The Little Rock NAACP has come to his aid, saying that his effort is very progressive, according to Eldorado News.
Many people view his effort as one which is very progressive, and one worthy of being noted by the entire law enforcement community throughout this nation.
Even amid the myriad of news about this show, Unlocked: A Jail Experiment has broken into the top ten most viewed shows on Netflix during its release week, and hopefully, it will stay there for the foreseeable future. Though the show has been at the center of controversy, it doesn’t appear, at least at the moment, that it was filmed illegally. Lucky 8 and all of those at the Pulaski County Regional Detention Facility in Little Rock, Arkansas, have done a favor to the United States and provided the latest generation with an easy and safe way to see what actually goes on in today’s incarceration system. Unlocked: A Jail Experiment is streaming now on Netflix.
