Netflix’s Unlocked: A Jail Experiment has returned for a second season with a new group of incarcerated men taking part in the six-week experiment
Netflix has just dropped the latest season of its hit true crime series, Unlocked: A Jail Experiment, and fans are eager to get acquainted with the new cast. The reality show, filmed within the confines of a correctional facility, sees the sheriff once again daringly experiment with granting inmates increased freedom.
The second season tracks a chosen group of incarcerated men at various stages of their sentences as they’re given the chance to self-govern and roam freely without constant oversight. Over a six-week period, the inmates establish their own set of rules. As an unscripted Netflix series, it captures authentic conversations and rivalries amongst the prisoners as they naturally unfold.
However, there’s some debate over whether the inmates are genuinely unsupervised. Pulaski County Sheriff Eric Higgins, the mastermind behind the original series, clarified to Tudum that the facilities are never entirely unmanned. Nonetheless, viewers remain intrigued about the second season’s cast and how they managed to turn their lives around through the experiment. Here’s everything you need to know about the season two cast, which includes the sheriff and some fresh faces among the inmates.
READ MORE: Inside The Duffer Brothers’ childhoods as fans ask if they are twinsREAD MORE: Inside the tragic lives of Ruby Franke’s children from torn muscles to starving
Ross Teeple
Stepping into the role from his predecessor, Mark Lamb, Pinal County Sheriff Ross Teeple was immediately confronted with a pre-existing agreement with a production company to welcome a documentary crew into his jail. This led to a six-week experiment that granted inmates an unprecedented level of control over their daily lives within the prison.
Teeple explained that the idea originated from his years of experience in corrections, and it turned out to be a resounding success. However, he confessed to inmaricopa.com that there were instances during filming when the risks became alarmingly real, revealing: “There were definitely times where I thought, ‘I think we’re going to have to shut this thing down’.”
Teeple hopes this series will ignite wider discussions about the operation of prisons across the country, stating: “At the end of the day,this was an experiment we tried, we learned from, and that will make our jail safer for staff and inmates.” His career began in the Navy before he was honourably discharged and transitioned into law enforcement.
Ronald ‘AO’ Dunmire
In the series, AO frequently finds himself in solitary confinement due to disrespect towards the COs, but he has since made significant changes for the sake of his family. He acknowledged his less than ideal background, but managed to find love and father four children with his ex-wife. Tragically, his life took a turn for the worse when his relationship ended and he developed anger issues.
Currently serving time at the Arizona State Prison Complex, he works as a prison groundskeeper and has discovered methods to control his anger. He has enrolled in numerous work and self-improvement courses, eager to reintegrate into society and spend time with his children.
Elwood ‘Woody’ Murphy Jr
After falling into drug use, Woody’s life took a drastic turn from his previous experiences with his wife and three children. Now 40, he is serving time at the Lewis Corrections Department, but has managed to achieve sobriety. Having reconnected with his family, including his daughters, he is eager to experience life beyond prison walls. He has taken on various roles within the prison whilst completing his nine-year sentence.
Ronald ‘Irish’ Stricklett
Ronald’s life has been marred by legal issues for many years, and there was a period when he believed he had finally found stability in Maricopa, Arizona. However, he couldn’t outrun his criminal history and is currently incarcerated at the Lewis Corrections Department. Now in his sixties, he is expected to remain there until November 2026.
In the interim, he has enrolled in several work programmes, including the New Beginnings Through Peers scheme. He has expressed a desire to embrace his new perspective on life.
Shane ‘Hondo’ Tipton
Shane shared his personal battle with addiction in the series, candidly discussing the challenging journey he embarked upon. He emphasised that progress was only achieved through self-discipline and a conscious decision to take ownership of his recovery.
Having been involved with drugs since the age of 11, he had a significant amount of work to do but managed to attain sobriety while detained at the Pinal County Detention Center. He is participating in a unique programme designed to equip men with essential life skills while maintaining sobriety. Following a successful court appearance where he made his case to a judge, he secured a transfer to the rehabilitation programme.
KJ
KJ is presently incarcerated at ASPC Yuma and has been forthcoming about the series of personal hardships he endured during his formative years, which ultimately led him astray. He received a nine-year custodial sentence but has pledged to make productive use of his time behind bars by building his own “community”.
He emphasised his commitment to taking responsibility not only for his own behaviour but also for that of his entire prison “family”, which he likened to a university “fraternity”.
Unlocked: A Jail Experiment season 2 is available to stream on Netflix.
