It’s an Australian first on Channel Nine.
In an extraordinary Australian television first, cameras will go beyond the high walls and barbed wire of three maximum security prisons on Australia Behind Bars.
The series premieres Thursday, February 3, at 9.00pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.
This powerful show presented by Melissa Doyle has unprecedented access into the harsh realities of daily life behind bars for inmates and corrections officers alike as it documents the confronting and compelling stories, the heartbreak, hell and hopes, of an existence in prison.
With close to 200 Australians sent to prison every day for crimes ranging from traffic offences to homicide, this uncompromising environment requires a high level of grit and instinct to survive. Within the inmate population are complex and multi-layered hierarchies of affiliations, loyalties, and gangs to adhere to.
The battle lines between guards and inmates are clear as tensions reach boiling point. Approval of social interactions must be sought from respected older inmates, and ensuring that lines of loyalty are not crossed by engaging with anyone known as a ‘rat’, or informant, is paramount.
As for the corrections officers themselves, they undoubtedly have one of the toughest jobs in the world. These unsung heroes work tirelessly in the face of constant threats of violence and verbal abuse while trying to curb the flow of contraband and drugs into the prisons.
Australia Behind Bars will give viewers a dramatic, firsthand look at a part of society they rarely see, with unforgettable characters, intimate access to the inner workings of the prison system, and highly charged emotional moments of unfiltered humanity.
Australian Behind Bars is produced by ITV Studios Australia for the 9Network.
I work in a prison. Firstly, “Guards” are what you find at the back of a train, we are “Custodial Correctional Officers”
I am keen to see this show to see how much is real and how much is Censored B.S.
Watch this space!
🤣🤣🤣🤣
My husband retired after 35 years service as a
NSW Police Officer across all areas mostly
indigenous liaison area. Sadly there is a lot of
Indigenous Persons incarcerated and
definitely should not be there. Let’s see if this
show Reflects the truth and by the previews It
appears the mentality hasn’t changed everyone is different everyone has a different story just
because your in jail or been in jail mean your bad.
They are human they live they breath like all of us.
Remember Reap what you sow
As the mother of a son, who was in one of the featured prisons for drug and assault charges, im yet to see anyone admit to the physical ‘Rape’ that he was subjected to.
Last year he was released – a broken man, nevermore able to function in society.
He suicided at home last month, aged 37.
Hi Maria – that’s very sad to hear. I’m sorry for you and your family’s loss.
Please let it be like Wentworth 🙏
Hi Tegan – Wentworth was a fictional drama, while this is an observational documentary series. You may be disappointed.