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Jail

(Rated NR, Reality TV, Starring Evan Lockwood, Where to watch: MyNetworkTV)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 14, age appropriate for kids over 18; suggested age 14.
  • Is it any good?

    3.0
  • Common Sense says

    Unflinching reality series from Cops team.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 14–18

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    The show is very focused on the power struggle between the guards and the inmates they must control. The inmates range from docile to deceptive to completely resistant, and the guards often have to use force -- or the threat of force -- to maintain control.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Many of the people featured on the show are violent in some manner. There are a few fistfights, plus plenty of inmates physically resist the guards, and some are quite literally bouncing off the walls. In some intense scenes, several guards must restrain a violent inmate. Some are also strapped into restraint devices, and it can be pretty disturbing to see even a drunk and violent inmate so dehumanized.
  • Sex:

    No sex or nudity, but some inmates wear somewhat suggestive clothing.
  • Language:

    No audible bad language, but many words are bleeped. The inmates are often upset, and it shows.
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    No scenes of people using drugs or alcohol, but many of the inmates are obviously quite drunk or high. Guards occasionally find drugs when searching incoming inmates.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Jail

Parents need to know that this reality series offers an unflinching look at what happens when people are arrested -- and it's definitely not fun. The inmates are often drunk or high and frequently violent. They pick fights with each other, attack the guards, and, if they're alone in an isolation cell, may even bang their heads against the wall in sheer frustration. Though there's no audible bad language (just lots of bleeps), and not much actual bloodshed, there's a palpable sense of tension in every episode as the guards try to maintain control. This tense show definitely isn't for younger kids, but its shock value could act as an incentive for teens to toe the line.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the criminal justice system. Lots of shows focus on the process of tracking down criminals, the court process, or the long years in prison. This is one of the few to look solely at the brief period between arrest and trial. How does jail differ from prison? What would be the worst part of being locked up? What is this show trying to accomplish? Also, how does this show compare to Cops, one of the original reality shows, which was created by the same people?

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