The Story of the #AIRS Campaign
The #AIRS Campaign (#Abolish Incarcerated Reality Shows) was launched by America On Trial Inc. to confront the harmful and exploitative portrayal of incarcerated individuals and their families in reality television. Rooted in the desire to expose and dismantle the "Prison-Television Complex," the campaign seeks to end the practice of turning incarceration into entertainment at the expense of human dignity and justice.
Reality shows like 60 Days In and Love After Lockup commodify the lives of incarcerated individuals, presenting their struggles as sensationalized content for viewers. These programs distort the realities of incarceration, portraying individuals as stereotypes or caricatures rather than complex human beings. They fuel public misconceptions about the criminal justice system, reinforce damaging stigmas, and desensitize audiences to the systemic issues of mass incarceration.
The origins of the #AIRS Campaign stem from a growing recognition of the harm these shows inflict—not only on the individuals being exploited but also on society’s understanding of justice. The media profits from the vulnerabilities of incarcerated people, often without providing them any form of compensation or protection. These programs glorify incarceration as a spectacle while perpetuating racist and classist narratives that sustain cycles of inequality and mass imprisonment.
The #AIRS Campaign emerged as a response to this injustice. America On Trial Inc. recognized that these portrayals not only strip away the humanity of those incarcerated but also undermine reform efforts by normalizing prison culture and trivializing the trauma of incarceration.
Through the campaign, we aim to:
Raise awareness of the exploitative nature of prison and jail reality TV shows.
Challenge networks like A&E, Netflix, and others that profit from these harmful depictions.
Amplify the voices of formerly incarcerated individuals and their families who have been directly impacted.
Promote systemic change by encouraging media accountability and advocating for narratives that foster understanding, empathy, and justice.
The #AIRS Campaign is more than a call to end exploitative programming—it is a movement to restore dignity to those who have been misrepresented, demand justice for the oppressed, and inspire a shift in public perception. By disrupting harmful media narratives, we hope to create a world that prioritizes human rights, rehabilitation, and equity over profit and sensationalism.
This is the story of the #AIRS Campaign: a movement to challenge exploitation, amplify humanity, and strive for justice.
Our goals:
End Exploitative Media Practices: Advocate for the removal of reality shows that capitalize on the struggles of incarcerated individuals.
Shift Public Narratives: Replace harmful depictions of incarceration with truthful, dignity-centered stories that foster understanding and justice.
Build Public Accountability: Educate and mobilize communities to demand ethical practices from media outlets and networks.
Support Families and Individuals: Amplify the voices of those impacted by incarceration and provide platforms to share their stories.
Key Achievements:
Growing Coalition: The #AIRS Campaign has partnered with over 23 organizations across 29 states, building a united movement.Public Advocacy: Organized rallies, including a high-profile event at A&E headquarters, to deliver petitions and amplify community demands.
Resources and Education: Created fact sheets, phone scripts, and advocacy tools to empower supporters in challenging harmful narratives.
Media Attention: Garnered press coverage and raised awareness about the harms of shows like 60 Days In through op-eds, interviews, and community events.
#AIRS Campaign Demands for Ethical Media Representation:
We call on A&E Network and other media companies to take immediate action to end the exploitation of incarcerated individuals and their families. Meaningful change in the industry requires not only policy shifts but also a transformation in the culture of network offices and writers’ rooms. Our demands include:
1️⃣ Remove Exploitative Programming –Immediately cancel incarceration-based reality shows like 60 Days In, Inmate to Roommate, and other similar programs, and remove them from all platforms.
2️⃣ Commit to Ethical Media Practices – End future productions that profit from incarceration and instead highlight authentic, dignified stories from directly impacted individuals and families.
3️⃣ Use People-First Language – Eliminate dehumanizing terms like “inmate” and “ex-inmate.” Use respectful alternatives such as “incarcerated individual” or “formerly incarcerated individual.”
4️⃣ Acknowledge Harm & Commit to Change – Publicly recognize the damage caused by exploitative media and commit to responsible, non-harmful storytelling.
5️⃣ Engage Impacted Communities – Collaborate with justice advocates and directly impacted individuals to ensure ethical and informed programming.
Change won’t happen without serious policies at the corporate level. The time to act is now!
fACT sHEET: “loVE aFTER lOCKUP”
Overview: "Love After Lockup" follows couples with one partner recently released from prison, raising ethical concerns about exploiting formerly incarcerated individuals for entertainment.
Key Issues:
Exploitation: Sensationalizing struggles for drama, ignoring reintegration challenges.
Stereotypes: Reinforcing negative stereotypes and misconceptions.
Privacy: Exposing personal lives without full understanding of the consequences.
Lack of Support: Focusing on entertainment over providing reintegration resources.
Impact on Relationships: Public pressure strains relationships and sets unrealistic expectations.
#AIRS Campaign Objectives:
End Exploitation: Abolish exploitative reality TV and promote ethical media.
Raise Awareness: Educate on harmful portrayals and the need for respectful representation.
Advocate for Change: Push for fair compensation, informed consent, and media accountability.
Support Reintegration: Encourage positive media content and support for reintegration efforts.
fACT sHEET: “#AIRS Campaign Fact Sheet: Ending 60 Days In on A&E and Combatting the Exploitation of Incarcerated Individuals”
Overview: The #AIRS Campaign is dedicated to ending the exploitation of prison and jail reality TV shows, like 60 Days In, which profit from the struggles of incarcerated individuals. These shows sensationalize prison life, perpetuate harmful stereotypes, and fail to compensate participants. Our mission is to combat exploitation, promote fair compensation, and raise awareness about the negative impact these shows have on both individuals and society's perception of incarcerated people.