The sheriff who stars in the new season of the hit reality show 60 Days In opened up about his surprising decision to bring seven undercover volunteers into his Utah jail to spy on inmates, while furiously attacking skeptics of the A&E series.
Sheriff Mike Smith sent seven members of the public, including a lingerie model and a former drug addict, to his Utah County jail to spy on actual inmates in an attempt to “improve things” within the facility, a experiment that will now be carried out. It aired in the ninth season of the reality show.
Now, in an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com, Sheriff Smith has addressed claims that the appalling conditions inside the jail are exaggerated for effect, saying the seven outsiders put behind bars receive exactly the same treatment as the other inmates and “they don’t receive anything extra. or special or different’.
When asked what he would say to those who are so skeptical about the A&E show, he responded: “First of all, before I agreed to do this, I was one of those critics, so I don’t have time for that, and I made That Of Course before we agreed to do this, I don’t have time to make a TV show if it’s fake.
‘I don’t need drama introduced into my facilities, I just don’t need a headache. So, I actually did my homework on this, I called other sheriffs who had knowledge of the issue and I can say that these participants are introduced into our facilities and what happens really happens.
The sheriff who stars in the new season of 60 Days In has attacked skeptics of the reality show
The ninth season of 60 Days In will see seven contestants infiltrate the Utah County Jail.
“It’s just life inside a prison, no artificial drama was introduced, it is what it is,” he said before the first episode of season 9, which premieres on A&E on May 30.
The chosen contestants (Scarlett, Qwell, Nina, Corey, Fabian, AB, and Daniel) are seen heading to the jail and going undercover. to shed light on a inflow of drugs, contraband and gang activity to help Sheriff Smith identify problems and create positive changes for both inmates and staff.
When asked if he believes the seven can handle life in prison, Sheriff Smith responded: “They all went through a process, including a psychological evaluation, to enter.”
‘I think maybe some of them are underestimating what it’s going to be like, but for me, it’s all in the mentality. People are amazing and they can do whatever they want if they put their mind to it.’
Addressing whether participants could be at risk if their true identities were discovered, he continued: “So, our job is to keep everyone in the facility safe, right? And regardless of whether it’s real inmates or these participants, our job is to keep the environment safe.
“So there’s always a risk that something could happen, but whether they’re in there or not, that risk is there and we made sure that we were doing everything necessary to minimize all the risks to keep people safe, but we do.” “. that every day.”
When asked if the real inmates would view the participants as “snitches,” Sheriff Smith reiterated that “they don’t know who they are,” even though the seven individuals walk in on trumped-up charges.
‘There’s a chance that if they found out who they were, they would see them that way. That’s why it’s important to have it under control and maintain your coverage,’ he explained before revealing how they explained the camera equipment to the inmates.
Sheriff Mike Smith stressed that ‘no contrived drama’ was added to the TV series.
Two participants who enter prison are lingerie model Scarlett (left) and former drug addict Daniel.
Participants will spy on real inmates for drug use and contraband.
“Of course, we already have cameras throughout the facility, but for this production there were cameras there and they were told we were making a documentary about prison life, and so we did, the name 60 Days In was just never used.” .’
In an exclusive first look at season nine, viewers get a glimpse of the seven individuals who are prepared to sleep in a cell to help Sheriff Smith upgrade his facility.
At the beginning of the two-minute video, Sheriff Smith explains, “They’re going to see everything that inmates do that deputies can’t see. They’re going to find contraband, if it’s in the jail, as well as weapons, and hopefully they can help identify how to reduce recidivism.
‘Each of them brings a unique perspective and after 60 days inside, they will share everything they have learned. It’s a difficult and dangerous job, but I’m counting on them.’
One of the participants, named Qwell, currently works as a police officer and used to be a corrections officer at Rikers Island, a famous 413-acre prison island in the East River in the Bronx, New York.
“They have attacked me, they have assaulted me, they have punched me. So when I come in, I’m going to show you who’s really running this,” Qwell warns in the video, while a bail bondsman named Nina claims, “I’m not afraid of this at all, I’m here for a long time.”
Another participant named Fabián reveals that he was in prison five years previously and that he is no stranger to ‘life on the street’, as he states: ‘I’m the type of person that if you fuck with me, I’ll leave.’ to fuck you even better.
AB is a law student, while Nina (right) is a bail bondsman and says she’s “not afraid of this at all.”
Qwell used to be a corrections officer at Rikers Island, a famous 413-acre prison island in New York.
Real Inmates at Utah County Jail Believe Documentary is Being Filmed and Are Unaware of TV Show 60 Days In
Fabian was previously in prison for five years, while Corey (right) is a retail worker who has watched the show for years.
AB, who has two university degrees and a master’s degree in criminology, law and society, also enters and admits: “I hope no one tries to do strange things, because whether I am a law student or not, I am still from the neighborhood.”
Daniel, who has been sober for almost seven and a half years, reveals that he “detoxed from intravenous fentanyl on the floor of an abandoned building” and is convinced he can “last 60 days in jail.”
Corey, a retail worker, has quite a different experience and reveals that he is simply a “super fan” of 60 Days In and wants to “prove” to himself that he can do it.
60 Days In season nine premieres Thursday, May 30 on A&E at 9/8c.