The BEST episodes of Lockup

Every episode of Lockup ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Lockup!

Lockup takes us inside maximum security prisons, showing us what life is really like for those that are spending several years there, their whole life, or even those waiting to be executed.

Last Updated: 6/30/2025Network: MSNBCStatus: Ended

10.00

2 votes

#1 - Raw: The Daily Grind

Season 5 - Episode 7 - Aired 7/19/2008

The daily grind of prison life has been known to push some inmates to the brink.

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10.00

2 votes

#2 - Extended Stay: New Mexico - Taking a Hostage

Season 4 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/29/2008

Prisoners take hostages in the Penitentiary of New Mexico.

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Wabash Valley: Extended Stay - Close Quarters

10.00

1 votes

#3 - Wabash Valley: Extended Stay - Close Quarters

Season 12 - Episode 4 - Aired 12/17/2011

Pairing up inmates into two-man cells requires careful screening.

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Wabash Valley: Extended Stay - Sticks and Stone

10.00

1 votes

#4 - Wabash Valley: Extended Stay - Sticks and Stone

Season 12 - Episode 1 - Aired 11/26/2011

The Wabash Correctional Facility houses more than 2,000 convicted felons.

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10.00

1 votes

#5 - World Tour: Western Europe

Season 6 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/26/2009

Life inside prisons throughout Scotland and Belgium.

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10.00

1 votes

#6 - World Tour: Eastern Europe

Season 6 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/26/2009

Behind the walls of six maximum-security prisons in Serbia, Poland, and the Czech Republic.

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10.00

1 votes

#7 - Raw: Time to Kill

Season 5 - Episode 16 - Aired 5/23/2009

How inmates spend their time in jail.

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10.00

1 votes

#8 - Raw: Pushing the Limits

Season 8 - Episode 4 - Aired 3/27/2010

In a life full of restrictions, we've seen inmates take control of whatever they can, despite the consequences. We've seen frustrated inmates reach their breaking point. And in the battle of wills, some will take actions that can never be reversed.

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10.00

2 votes

#9 - Extended Stay: Corcoran - Road to Redemption

Season 4 - Episode 6 - Aired 9/20/2008

Inmates must choose between doing their time or following a more self-destructive path.

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10.00

3 votes

#10 - Raw: Ganging Up

Season 5 - Episode 15 - Aired 5/16/2009

Joining a gang while in prison.

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9.50

2 votes

#11 - Raw: Survival 101

Season 5 - Episode 14 - Aired 1/1/2009

An inmate feels his survival depends on staying in prison; prison food.

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9.33

3 votes

#12 - Raw: Hard Time

Season 5 - Episode 11 - Aired 11/8/2008

Inmates with nothing left to lose.

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9.33

3 votes

#13 - Indiana State Prison: Extended Stay - For Better Or Worse

Season 6 - Episode 4 - Aired 6/13/2009

Contraband finds its way to the inmates.

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9.33

3 votes

#14 - Tampa: Extended Stay - High Profile

Season 11 - Episode 7 - Aired 9/3/2011

At the Hillsborough County Jail in Tampa, Fla., an accused murderer in a high profile case tries to cash in on her notoriety and a convicted rapist loses his cool in court.

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Wichita: Extended Stay - Defending Bacon

9.25

4 votes

#15 - Wichita: Extended Stay - Defending Bacon

Season 27 - Episode 1 - Aired 1/13/2017

At the Sedgwick County Jail in Wichita, Kansas, many inmates rely on their faith to help them through their time behind bars.

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9.20

5 votes

#16 - Extended Stay: Corcoran - Hugs Not Drugs

Season 4 - Episode 4 - Aired 8/30/2008

Inmates find various ways to smuggle in contraband.

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9.00

3 votes

#17 - Boston: Extended Stay - Baptism by Fire

Season 11 - Episode 5 - Aired 8/6/2011

An inmate finds himself on the wrong end of an attack; another with a reputation for violence and another waits trial for murder.

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9.00

1 votes

#18 - Inside Spring Creek Alaska

Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 12/18/2006

Life inside Alaska's Spring Creek Correctional Center.

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9.00

2 votes

#19 - Wabash Valley: Extended Stay - We Fight

Season 12 - Episode 3 - Aired 12/10/2011

A group inmates find themselves in racial conflict.

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9.00

3 votes

#20 - Raw: Harsh Reality

Season 9 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/13/2010

Sometimes life has other plans, like when the ex leader of a gang faces a whole new reality he discovers the price for coming clean.

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9.00

1 votes

#21 - Indiana State Prison: Extended Stay - Brotherhood

Season 6 - Episode 5 - Aired 6/20/2009

The Residential Treatment Unit.

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9.00

1 votes

#22 - Maricopa County: Extended Stay - Identity Crisis

Season 9 - Episode 5 - Aired 7/31/2010

No matter the circumstances that brought them there, Maricopa County Jail in Phoenix, Arizona, will have a profound effect on who the inmates will become. And for some, their time in jail will reveal their true nature.

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9.00

5 votes

#23 - Holman: Extended Stay - He Takes No Prisoners

Season 3 - Episode 7 - Aired 12/10/2007

Grantt Culliver controls the disruptive inmates of Holman Correctional Facility.

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9.00

4 votes

#24 - Raw: America's Toughest Jails

Season 5 - Episode 10 - Aired 10/25/2008

Three of America's busiest and largest jails.

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9.00

2 votes

#25 - Extended Stay: Corcoran - Prison Politics

Season 4 - Episode 3 - Aired 8/16/2008

Corcoran officers put their lives on the line to prevent inmate attacks.

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