Behind Bars: Rookie Year

New rookies hit the line in New Mexico's prison system, where violence is at an all-time high and the notorious SNM gang has declared war on all COs.

The rookies must find ways to assert their authority or risk being preyed upon by predatory inmates.

Only the strong survive in prison, both inmate and officer alike. Purto and D'Angelo clash with antagonistic inmates.

Working in corrections tests patience and courage every day, and its beginning to take a toll on the rookies.

For rookies, the mental game in prison can be even more challenging than the physical one. D'Angelo is frustrated when he has trouble catching inmates in his unit with contraband.

Violence against New Mexico law enforcement is on the rise, and even the smallest mistake can become devastating. Mangin joins the extraction team and must forcibly remove an unwilling inmate from his cell. Israel makes an error when performing a drug test and Fabian loses track of inmates in his unit. Ariel starts a new post and goes too far to establish her authority, setting up a serious conflict.

The department's case against the prison gangs is building and the rookies must learn to find evidence that will take them down for good. Purto redeems himself with STIU and assists in a major SNM drug bust.

After a few months on the job, some rookies are finding their footing as officers while others are starting to fall behind. Lilly works control in an SNM pod that's been locked down after a recent murder.

Violent attacks are on the rise in the prison, and things can can go from zero to 100 in a heartbeat. Rookie COs must be vigilant at all times to prevent a disaster.

The administration steps up efforts to take down the SNM gang as violence continues to rise in the prison. Israel and Purto must shakedown cells of high-level SNM gang leaders, and Purto discovers his life may be in jeopardy.

The war against the SNM reaches its climax and the rookies help put the final nail in the gang's coffin. Purto takes part in a surprise raid on SNM leaders and Javier conducts his first extraction.