A journalist travels to different locations to explore the imprisonment process of various societies. In the Philippines, the featured prison is Rizal Jail, where inmates perform dances and cook for each other. In Poland's Piotrkow Prison, he experiences intensive guard and riot training and spends time in Piotrow's most extreme isolation cell. He also discovers what conditions are like at El Hongo prison in Mexico and Danli Prison in Honduras. Other facilities are visited in Brazil, Papua New Guinea, Ukraine and Belize. Throughout the episodes, the host reveals the struggles of each institution as the guards attempt to reform criminals and prisoners adjust to life on the inside.