#AIRS Campaign:
The #AIRS (#Abolish Incarcerated Reality Shows) campaign aims to end the exploitation of incarcerated individuals through prison and jail reality TV shows. These programs profit from the hardships of those behind bars, fueling mass incarceration and the prison-television complex. Our goal is to combat this exploitation, restore dignity to those sensationalized by reality TV, and challenge the harmful stigmas that hinder their reintegration into society after release.
Our Vision:
Our vision for the #AIRS Campaign is to dismantle the prison-television complex and foster a fairer media landscape. We aim to expose the exploitation in incarcerated reality shows, challenge harmful stereotypes, and raise awareness about their impact on mass incarceration. Our goals include advocating for policy reforms to address ethical issues, pushing for the abolition of these shows, and promoting responsible media portrayals. By highlighting the lack of compensation and labor protections for participants, we seek to ensure fair treatment and drive meaningful societal change.
“Many Americans are captivated by films and television programs about crime and the criminal justice system, mainly about jails and prisons. However, most Americans have yet to experience firsthand experience with a real prison and jail or access information on the lives of incarcerated detainees, according to When the Viewer Goes to Prison: learning Facts from Watching Fiction Study.”
Television and movies heavily influence public perceptions of prison life, often portraying dramatized and stereotypical depictions.
Despite being fictional, these shows can significantly impact viewers' perceptions and even shape public policy opinions.
Institutional racism is evident in the overrepresentation of African Americans and Latinx individuals in the prison population.
Reality shows exploit violence for entertainment, reinforcing negative stereotypes about prison life.
These shows are easily accessible on popular streaming platforms, contributing to their widespread influence on societal attitudes.
FROM 1980
Over 13 Reality Shows Featuring Incarcerated Individuals, and the Number Keeps Growing
has shown in over 100 countries
How much does “60 days” cost to run?
""60 Days In" became the top new reality series on cable in 2016, attracting 1.5 million viewers aged 25-54. The audience demographics for these shows in 2021 are revealing. People aged 18-49 make up 15% of the viewership, with women aged 18-49 representing 16% and men 17%. Individuals aged 18-34 account for 7% of the audience, with women comprising 17% and men 5%. Persons aged 24-54 represent 21% of the viewership, while those aged 50 and older constitute 26% of the audience.
A former reality TV producer revealed on Reddit that A&E budgets approximately $375,000 per episode for the show, with individuals portraying detainees reportedly earning about $3,000 per episode.
Despite generating around $42 million in total revenue, the incarcerated individuals involved in the show receive no wages.
The Clark County Sheriff disclosed plans to use the $60,000 received from A&E for training and equipment upgrades, with the show agreeing to reimburse the county for the representative's base salary and overtime costs related to filming.
“What is wrong with “60 Days In”?
Emergence of Cultural Industry: The convergence of the prison-industrial complex and neoliberalism in the 1980s turned prisons into a cultural industry. State and private sector partnerships capitalized on harsh penal policies, leading to a proliferation of prisons and prison culture.
Entertainment Trends: Since the early 2000s, U.S. television has embraced incarceration as a theme for nonfiction entertainment. Programs like "60 Days In" use real-life prisons for dramatic storytelling.
Television Programming Landscape: Reality-based law enforcement programs like "COPS" paved the way for prison-themed entertainment, showcasing prison life to audiences.
The Premise of "60 Days In": "60 Days In" features volunteers who go undercover in prisons to gather intelligence on "crime and corruption," including activists, skeptics, and aspiring law enforcement professionals.
Incarceration as Entertainment: "60 Days In" transforms the harsh realities of prison life into captivating entertainment, normalizing prison as a cultural phenomenon while promising viewers an authentic glimpse into incarceration.
Prison Labor Exploitation: Incarcerated individuals serve as both the setting and cast members for television productions, generating unpaid labor value for prisons and media companies.
Partnerships and Profit: TV production companies collaborate with penal institutions, benefiting from subsidized filming locations and access to prison resources, further monetizing prisons as cultural production sites.
Involvement of Prison Officials: Prison officials actively contribute to reality TV programs by developing storylines, monitoring filming, and engaging in promotional efforts to enhance visibility and brand value.
Social Media Integration: "60 Days In" extends its reach through social media platforms, encouraging audience interaction and participation, and contributing to common-sense knowledge about incarceration.
Micro-Celebrity and Entrepreneurialism: Participants and prison officials leverage their involvement for increased visibility and career opportunities, aligning with the entrepreneurial logic of carceral capitalism.
Mutually Beneficial Participation: Reality television offers participants a chance to use their media exposure for personal gain, serving as a stepping stone to careers in law enforcement or corrections and reinforcing the narrative of self-enterprise under neoliberalism.
“The #AIRS Campaign aims to end reality TV shows that exploit detainees and combat the exploitation of the incarcerated population. We strive to shift the dialogue on mass incarceration, advocate for meaningful reforms, and work towards abolishing these exploitative practices.”
As long as incarcerated people are depicted on the programs with their fullest consent, all incarcerated people on these reality shows must be compensated at a rate no less than minimum wage.
If an individual is incarcerated, 50% of funds earned by an incarcerated individual should be held in an Incarcerated People fund that provides these funds to individuals after they are released.
Producers and networks featuring these programs must donate a portion of their profits to non-profit programs that will directly assist incarcerated people’s return to society, such as re-entry, housing, vocational programs, etc.
Through our awareness campaign research projects, we fight to demand that producers and networks are held accountable for instigating acts of violence in facilities of incarceration and for influencing the stigmatization of incarcerated people.
#AIRS Webinar Event 10.25.23
America On Trial Inc. held an #AIRS Webinar on October 25th in collaboration with the #AIRS Coalition. This coalition includes Directly Impacted Leaders, Film Writers, and organizations such as A Little Piece Of Light, New Hour For Women & Children, Hudson Catskill Housing Coalition, and so many more. The webinar's primary goal was to voice our demands and shed light on the reality series "60 Days In" and we want to abolish it.
#AIRS Campaign Video TV Network Feeding Into Mass Incarceration
Don't miss our video exposing TV networks broadcasting reality shows about incarceration. This prison-televisual complex profits from and perpetuates the biopolitical process, aligning with carceral capitalism for entertainment, infiltrating penal institutions, and controlling marginalized populations. Abolishing incarcerated reality shows is crucial, which is why the #AIRS Campaign was launched.
Call A&E Office At 212-210-1400
Call A&E Office At 212-210-1400
Call A&E and request the removal of '60 Days In' from their lineup. The show exploits and sensationalizes incarceration for entertainment, perpetuating harmful stereotypes and normalizing the prison-industrial complex. Contact their office at 212-210-1400.
The #AIRS Campaign urges A&E Networks' President Paul Buccieri and leadership to cease the production and airing of exploitative shows like "60 Days In." Sign our petition and share it with your network! Our goal is to reach 5,000 signatures.