Crime A 6-Week Jail Experiment in Arkansas Will Give Inmates More Freedom in an Effort to Lower Incarceration Rates Netflix's upcoming series, 'Unlocked: A Jail Experiment,' will showcase an Arkansas sheriff taking a new approach with inmates in hopes of decreasing incarceration and re-offending rates By Corin Cesaric Corin Cesaric Corin Cesaric is an Associate Editor at PEOPLE. They have been working at PEOPLE for one year. People Editorial Guidelines Updated on March 13, 2024 12:32PM EDT Close Prisoners in an episode of 'Unlocked: A Jail Experiment'. Photo: Netflix No locks. No officers. More freedom. This is what an Arkansas sheriff believes may lead to lower incarceration rates and fewer reoffending inmates at the jail he oversees. Pulaski County Sheriff Eric Higgins implemented a six-week program to try and see how inmates would respond. Higgins thought a different approach was needed given the issues plaguing the Arkansas detention facility and the jail's poor living conditions, where inmates can spend upwards of 23 hours a day in their cells. As part of Higgins' program, the inmates are responsible for both themselves and others. The aim is to foster feelings of dignity and accountability. The program will be showcased in the upcoming reality series Unlocked: A Jail Experiment, premiering on Wednesday, April 10 on Netflix. See the exclusive trailer below. In the trailer, some inmates discuss the fear of one inmate ruining it for everyone — and a possible power struggle ensues. Another inmate sees it as an opportunity to reconnect with his children through visits he can have with his newfound freedom. Inmates can also be rewarded with more freedoms if they showcase good behavior. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. "This series explores the challenges faced by jails and prisons, such as low staffing, overcrowding, and the negative stigma," Higgins tells PEOPLE in a statement. "Despite these difficulties, my team and I are working on new ways to improve our facility in order to create a safer environment for our employees and help those in our care through responsibility and accountability. Did we face obstacles? YES! However, I believe this journey will not only change the lives of the individuals involved but also challenge society's views on incarceration and rehabilitation." A prisoner at the Pulaski County Detention Facility. Netflix Tune in to watch the eight-episode series and see if the key to better criminal justice outcomes is more freedom. Unlocked: A Jail Experiment premieres on April 10 on Netflix.