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The Best Episodes of Behind Bars: Rookie Year

Every episode of Behind Bars: Rookie Year ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Behind Bars: Rookie Year!

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An original docuseries following novice correctional officers as they begin their careers inside the walks of one of the most perilous prisons in America, the Penitentiary of New Mexico.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Behind Bars: Rookie Year Season 1 Episode 1 - Is It Worth It?
    8.2/10(11 votes)

    #1 - Is It Worth It?

    S1:E1

    Even the best training can't prepare a rookie Corrections Officer for the physical demands and emotional rollercoaster of their first year on the job. At the Penitentiary of New Mexico (PNM) a group of rookie COs embark on their new career. Zach experiences his first use of force, 19-year-old Tyler makes a frightening discovery, an unruly inmate tests Carlos and Ariel is out to prove everyone wrong.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. Behind Bars: Rookie Year Season 1 Episode 7 - Sink or Swim
    8.0/10(8 votes)

    #2 - Sink or Swim

    S1:E7

    With a few months on the line under their belts, the rookies are beginning to understand the harsh realities of their new careers. Keith is at a crossroads while Andrew tries to find the balance needed to be an effective officer. The training wheels come off as Ariel is tested during an emergency.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. Behind Bars: Rookie Year Season 1 Episode 8 - Breaking Point
    8.0/10(9 votes)

    #3 - Breaking Point

    S1:E8

    An inmate walks off a work detail; Ariel is assigned to PNM's worst inmates; Keith decides it's time for a change; Andrew and Mangin form a partnership; a former CO tries to get his job back.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. Behind Bars: Rookie Year Season 2 Episode 1 - A New Threat
    7.8/10(6 votes)

    #4 - A New Threat

    S2:E1

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. Behind Bars: Rookie Year Season 1 Episode 6 - The Drug Trade
    7.1/10(10 votes)

    #5 - The Drug Trade

    S1:E6

    Most of PNM's inmates are serving long-term sentences for violent crimes, and for many it's drugs that help them get through the time. Despite efforts to keep the prison clean, narcotics always find their way into this otherwise closed world. Francisco suspects an inmate is high while Andrew takes inmates on a high-risk work detail outside of the prison. And new CO Bruce struggles under the weight of high expectations.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. Behind Bars: Rookie Year Season 1 Episode 3 - Gangland
    7.0/10(10 votes)

    #6 - Gangland

    S1:E3

    Gangs are the number one threat to maintaining order at PNM. Members are organized, loyal and often violent. Francisco responds to a fight while Tyler crosses the line with a gang leader. Keith assists PNM's elite gang unit and new CO Cohen Mangin aims to prove he has what it takes to follow in his family's footsteps.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Behind Bars: Rookie Year

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  7. Behind Bars: Rookie Year Season 1 Episode 4 - The Con Game
    7.0/10(10 votes)

    #7 - The Con Game

    S1:E4

    Inmates are called convicts for good reason. Once inside, they have nothing but time to conjure up ingenious ways to hide contraband and manipulate COs. Mangin gets conned by a career criminal and Andrew helps STIU bust a drug dealing gang member. Ariel deals with the challenges of being a female CO.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. Behind Bars: Rookie Year Season 1 Episode 2 - Respect
    6.9/10(10 votes)

    #8 - Respect

    S1:E2

    The hardest lesson for a rookie CO to learn is the difference between forcing respect and earning it. New CO Andrew's aggressive approach rubs inmates the wrong way while Keith tries to get ahead of a potentially volatile situation. Francisco confronts a lying inmate and Ariel faces her first day on the line. And for one Rookie, the job proves to be too much.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. Behind Bars: Rookie Year Season 1 Episode 5 - The Riot
    6.9/10(9 votes)

    #9 - The Riot

    S1:E5

    Violence is a way of life in prison and the threat of it keeps both COs and inmates on constant alert. Zach investigates a fight while Keith deals with unstable and violent inmates. Ariel is a "rover" wrestling with the uncertainty that comes with the job. And PNM's tragic past, which includes the bloodiest prison riot in American history, acts as both a haunting reminder and a catalyst for change.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. Behind Bars: Rookie Year Season 2 Episode 2 - Fear
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #10 - Fear

    S2:E2

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. Behind Bars: Rookie Year Season 2 Episode 3 - Predator vs. Prey
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #11 - Predator vs. Prey

    S2:E3

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. Behind Bars: Rookie Year Season 2 Episode 4 - Survival of the Fittest
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #12 - Survival of the Fittest

    S2:E4

    Only the strong will survive in prison, for both inmates and officers alike. Purto and D'Angelo clash with antagonistic inmates. Lilly oversees a prison work program just a few steps away where SNM gang members recently murdered on of their own. Andrew hits the line and questions whether he is cut out for this job or not.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. Behind Bars: Rookie Year Season 2 Episode 5 - Boiling Point
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #13 - Boiling Point

    S2:E5

    Working in corrections tests patience and courage each day and is beginning to take a toll on the rookies. Mangin and Cordova must subdue a gang member after he threatens them. Israel refuses to follow prison protocol when a former SNM gang member intimidates him. Lilly gets a confidence boost when she discovers drugs in an inmate's mail. Purto is called to a special assignment discharging a high risk inmate.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. Behind Bars: Rookie Year Season 2 Episode 6 - Mind Games
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #14 - Mind Games

    S2:E6

    For the 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. Lilly learns a hard lesson about trusting inmates when a phone goes missing in the pod. Purto joins the elite STIU team interview a gang member. A new rookie, Chaz, hits the line and hopes to live up to his father's legacy.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. Behind Bars: Rookie Year Season 2 Episode 7 - No Room for Error
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #15 - No Room for Error

    S2:E7

    Violence against New Mexico law enforcement is on the rise and even the smallest mistake can be devastating. Mangin joins the extraction to which must forcible remove an unwilling inmate from his cell. Israel makes an error while 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 and sets up a serious conflict.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. Behind Bars: Rookie Year Season 2 Episode 8 - Building the Case
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #16 - Building the Case

    S2:E8

    The department's case against prison gangs is building and the rookies must learn how to find evidence that will take them down for good. Purto redeems himself with the STIU unit and assists in a major SNM drug bust. D'Angelo finally finds drugs in the open dormitory. Mangin and Cordova respond to an emergency involving an irate inmate. Fabian gets discouraged and has to call his brother for some help.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. Behind Bars: Rookie Year Season 2 Episode 9 - The Ones That Make It
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #17 - The Ones That Make It

    S2:E9

    After a few months on the job, the rookies are starting to find their footing as officers while others are falling behind. Lilly works control in an SNM pod that has been locked down after a recent murder. Chaz gets ready for an extraction, meanwhile a new cadet, Javier, excels in the training academy. Fabian makes a serious mistake that puts his job in jeopardy. Ariel begins to doubt her career choice and stops showing up to work.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. Behind Bars: Rookie Year Season 2 Episode 10 - Zero to 100
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #18 - Zero to 100

    S2:E10

    Violent attacks are on the rise in the prison and things can go from zero to 100 in an instant. Rookie COs must be vigilant at all times to prevent a disaster. Mangin must subdue a volatile inmate when he swallows unidentified contraband. A fight between gang members breaks out in Chaz's unit and Javier's first assignment as a CO is yard duty. Tired of the violence and stress, Ariel quits the job. Meanwhile D'Angelo moves to PNM in the hopes of getting to see more action.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. Behind Bars: Rookie Year Season 2 Episode 11 - It's Personal
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #19 - It's Personal

    S2:E11

    The administration steps up efforts to take down the SNM gang as violence is still rising in the prison. Israel and Purto shakedown cells of of high level SNM gang leaders and find out Purto's life may be in jeopardy. A leader of the SNM gang tells his story. Mangin and Cordova hit their 1 year anniversary as COs and witness a violent SNM gang fight. Chaz is beginning to come into his own as a correctional officer.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Best Episodes Summary

"Is It Worth It?" is the best rated episode of "Behind Bars: Rookie Year". It scored 8.2/10 based on 11 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 8/6/2015. This episode scored 0.2 points higher than the second highest rated, "Sink or Swim".