Lawmakers in Arkansas are investigating Sheriff Eric Higgins’ choice to permit a Netflix documentary series to be recorded at the county jail, raising concerns over ethics and the portrayal of inmate reentry programs for entertainment purposes.
Arkansas lawmakers are scrutinizing Pulaski County Sheriff Eric Higgins’ decision to allow a Netflix documentary series to be filmed at the county jail. The series, titled “Unlocked: A Jail Experiment,” premiered last month and documents a six-week program that gives inmates in one cellblock more freedom by unlocking their cell doors.
The series, filmed at the Little Rock facility, aims to highlight reentry programs designed to reduce recidivism. Higgins defended the initiative before the Joint Performance Review Committee, stating he did not solicit Netflix or the production company, Lucky 8, but sought to implement a beneficial reentry program for inmates.
Some lawmakers, including Republican Sen. Jonathan Dismang, criticized the filming as exploitative. Dismang questioned the ethical implications of having a reentry program documented for entertainment purposes, suggesting it undermined the integrity of the initiative. Concerns were also raised regarding the potential impact on Arkansas’ reputation, reminiscent of a controversial 1994 HBO documentary about gangs in Little Rock.
County Judge Barry Hyde claimed the agreement between the sheriff and the production company was improper, as he was unaware of the series until seeing its trailer and had not signed off on the deal. The county has since returned a $60,000 payment from the production company.
Sheriff Higgins, the first Black sheriff of Pulaski County, has the backing of some community groups, including the Little Rock chapter of the NAACP. Democratic Sen. Linda Chesterfield emphasized the importance of acknowledging diverse perspectives on the treatment of inmates.
The lawmakers’ inquiry continues as they assess the implications of the documentary on both the jail’s administration and the state’s image.
