Herds of livestock roam here under the big Montana sky. Cowboys and wranglers watch over them. But these are not ordinary ranch hands. And this is no ordinary ranch. Welcome to the State Prison in Deer Lodge, Montana. 1,300 high and medium security inmates live here. Their range of crimes includes murder and robbery as well as drug possession and sex crimes. In its present day setting, Montana State Prison operates efficiently as both a ranch and a modern high security fortress. But it's legacy is dark and its history is marked by violent uprisings, inhumane conditions and brutality. We'll see where the story began --five miles away from the current cellblocks in the state's original stone prison -- now a relic and tourist attraction that looks like a castle. We'll meet inmates who work on the prison's farm and dairy as well as violent offenders who hold jobs as-- telemarketers. watch
Upon opening in rural New York State, Attica was hailed as an architectural landmark and model for the confinement of the most dangerous criminals. Over time, its name became a battle cry for death, despair, and violence. Paul Sorvino narrates a look at the home of the worst prison riot in American history in September 1971.
McNeil Island is a remote outpost rising from the chilly waters of Puget Sound, forty miles south of Seattle, Washington. Throughout its history, this isolated fortress has been the scene of daring escapes and intense violence. McNeil Island Prison was opened 125 years ago and its convicts came from the furthest reaches of civilization. Over time, it became a home to a diverse cross section of criminals as it went from being a Federal Penitentiary and then back to being a State Prison again. Its inmates included train robbers, gangsters, and politicians. Notorious offenders include mobster Mickey Cohen, Attorney Vincent Halinan, who ran for President of the U.S. while still locked inside, Robert Stroud, the legendary "Birdman of Alcatraz", and the infamous Charles Manson.
Interviews include a former inmate who attempted escape form McNeil Island, two former wardens and current correctional officers. watch
Called the "Castle on the Cumberland", its inspiring medieval presence is a focal point on the landscape. But this castle is really Kentucky's maximum-security prison, reinforced with modern cellblocks and electronic surveillance to keep watch on the state's most dangerous prisoners. We follow an officer on his shift and step inside the high-security block that houses the "worst of the worst", and tour death row that's electric chair holds a gruesome national record--seven executions in a single day! watch