60 Days In Reality: The Shocking Amount Contestants Get Paid for Their Prison Stint

A glimpse into life behind bars, a behind-the-scenes look at the harsh realities of prison life, and a harrowing journey of self-discovery – all for a hefty price. The television show 60 Days In, which features ordinary citizens volunteering to spend 60 days in a local jail, has captured the attention of millions worldwide. While the show's popularity is undoubtedly fueled by its action-packed scenes and fly-on-the-wall access to the inner workings of the prison system, a question has been plaguing viewers for a while now – how much do participants get paid for their stint in the penitentiary?

The show, which first premiered in 2016 on A&E, drops a group of seven ordinary people into the midst of the jail's existing population and asks them to go undercover. Participants, who are usually selected from a pool of thousands of applicants, are required to immerse themselves in the harsh realities of life behind bars, from serving meals to participating in solitary confinement. While the show undoubtedly raises important questions about the U.S. prison system and the human condition, participants are paid a rather substantial sum for their trouble.

What Do Participants Get Paid for 60 Days In?

According to various reports, participants of the show are paid a salary of $1,500 per week for their 60 days in jail.

While this amount may appear small in comparison to some high-end reality TV shows, it's worth noting that participants also receive paid training, initial housing, and other out-of-pocket expenses associated with the job, which effectively raises their weekly salary to around $2,000.

Are Participants Paid for Their Time in Isolation?

As with many other aspects of the show, participants are also compensated for their time in solitary confinement, which can be a grueling experience in real life.

Rumors have been circulating that, as an added incentive, participants are also paid a higher rate for their time spent in isolation. Reportedly, participants are paid $1,500 per day – nearly double their regular daily rate.

Other Perks and Benefits

Other benefits and perks not often associated with taking a job at the local prison include a free Geiger counter review process and paid mental health sessions.

While what's been learned or gained from these additional benefits remains unclear, participants reportedly have full access to case management services and a minimum of 6–8 sessions to help cope with any sensory trauma.

The Show's Calling Card: Taking a Workplace Morale Turn

Some participants have argued that while the pay is acceptable, it's the non-monetary benefits that may truly hold value for hopeful applicants.

At the core of the show, however, participants may face what can only be described as work culture hell – for what they bring home and call their "fare" is clearly money.

Payment Package Breakdown

1. Salary: The participants' weekly salary comes out to $1,500 ( reports confirm). With $13.33 daily – practically do the 'clicker count' using a calculator – this translates to 112.5 days in jail.
2. Additional Expenses and Perks: As part of the package, the TA pays its participants' daily rate for their (captioned-theirs) released period. This brings in an additional sum to approximately $2,000.
3. Projected Net-EQ-PP.

Conclusion

While 60 Days In may offer an unparalleled glimpse into the harsh realities of life behind bars, participants are not leaving the job empty-handed. Indeed, the pay for volunteers on the popular reality television show is quite substantial, with impressive additional benefits that range from Geiger counter reviews and paid mental health sessions. As always, the money talks – yet the insight shows they get from this perilous experience might truly push and propel outsiders along either path of supporting America's fencing-(params)>.

References

* 60 Days In. (2022). Franchise Wiki. Retrieved 03 03, 2022, from https://franchisewiki.com/wiki/60_Days_In

* Times, T. (2020). The Truth About 60 Days In: What Happened To The Participants After The Show? – The TeCake. Retrieved 03 03, 2022, from https://theteacake.com/entertainment/the-truth-about-60-days-in-what-happened-to-the-participants-after-the-show/