This is an audio cast of the Frontline program Prison State, broadcast April 29th on PBS.

Tonight on Frontline, my mom was like the my daddy, my brothers, my cousin, everybody.

There were 2.3 million people locked up in the United States.

I spent more time in prison, I've been in society.

That's the shame.

Around half for non-violent crimes.

I shouldn't be in here.

I'm in here, basically, let's get this going.

These inmates are costing states billions.

They can't afford.

Our number one frequent fire is not dangerous, but we have probably spent millions of dollars on this guy.

Frontline takes you inside one American neighborhood, where getting locked up is a part of everyday life.

The system's set up for them to fail because when they come out of prison, there's nothing for them.

An inside one state that is trying to fix a broken system.

Incarceration has become the response to every social problem that we encounter.

Childhood work, prisoned unworked.

We need to distinguish between who we're mad at and who we're afraid of.

Tonight on Frontline, prison state.

Frontline is made possible by contributions to your PBS station from viewers like you.

Thank you.

And by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Major support for Frontline is provided by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, committed to building more just, verdant, and peaceful world.

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