PBS Anywhere

Providing Support for PBS.org

Learn More about PBS online sponsorship

FRONTLINE

Solitary Nation

Season 32 Episode 9 | 53m 40s

With extraordinary access, award-winning producer and director Dan Edge takes you to the epicenter of the raging debate about prison reform. "Solitary Nation" offers an up-close, graphic look at a solitary confinement unit in Maine’s maximum-security prison with firsthand accounts from prisoners and staff whose lives are forever altered by this troubled system.

Aired: 04/21/14

Rating: NR

Video has closed captioning.

Buy Now:

Watch Preview

Problems Playing Video?

Closed Captioning

More Episodes

Video thumbnail: FRONTLINE Drug Lord: The Legend of Shorty

FRONTLINE

Drug Lord: The Legend of Shorty

Two filmmakers set out to interview "El Chapo" Guzman, leader of a major drug cartel.

S32 Ep20 | 1h 23m 10s

Drug Lord: The Legend of Shorty

S32 Ep20 | 1h 23m 10s

Video thumbnail: FRONTLINE The Fight for Yemen

FRONTLINE

The Fight for Yemen

With Yemen in chaos, a gripping report from the heart of the escalating conflict.

S32 Ep19 | 54m 34s

The Fight for Yemen

S32 Ep19 | 54m 34s

Video thumbnail: FRONTLINE The Trouble with Chicken

FRONTLINE

The Trouble with Chicken

FRONTLINE investigates the spread of dangerous pathogens in meat – particularly poultry.

S32 Ep18 | 54m 41s

The Trouble with Chicken

S32 Ep18 | 54m 41s

Video thumbnail: FRONTLINE Ebola Outbreak/Hunting Boko Haram

FRONTLINE

Ebola Outbreak/Hunting Boko Haram

Reports from the epicenters of the Ebola outbreak and the fight against Boko Haram.

S32 Ep17 | 54m 11s

Ebola Outbreak/Hunting Boko Haram

S32 Ep17 | 54m 11s

Video thumbnail: FRONTLINE Losing Iraq

FRONTLINE

Losing Iraq

FRONTLINE examines the unfolding chaos in Iraq: What went wrong? How did we get here?

S32 Ep15 | 1h 24m 10s

Losing Iraq

S32 Ep15 | 1h 24m 10s

Video thumbnail: FRONTLINE Separate and Unequal

FRONTLINE

Separate and Unequal

FRONTLINE examines what's behind the growing racial divide in American schools.

S32 Ep14 | 53m 41s

Separate and Unequal

S32 Ep14 | 53m 41s

Video thumbnail: FRONTLINE Battle Zones: Ukraine and Syria

FRONTLINE

Battle Zones: Ukraine and Syria

FRONTLINE reports from inside two raging conflicts.

S32 Ep13 | 53m 41s

Battle Zones: Ukraine and Syria

S32 Ep13 | 53m 41s

Video thumbnail: FRONTLINE United States of Secrets (Part Two)

FRONTLINE

United States of Secrets (Part Two)

FRONTLINE investigates how Silicon Valley feeds the NSA's global dragnet.

S32 Ep12 | 53m 41s

United States of Secrets (Part Two)

S32 Ep12 | 53m 41s

Video thumbnail: FRONTLINE United States of Secrets (Part One)

FRONTLINE

United States of Secrets (Part One)

How did the government come to spy on millions of Americans?

S32 Ep11 | 1h 54m 11s

United States of Secrets (Part One)

S32 Ep11 | 1h 54m 11s

Video thumbnail: FRONTLINE Prison State

FRONTLINE

Prison State

An intimate look at the cycle of mass incarceration in America.

S32 Ep10 | 1h 23m 40s

Prison State

S32 Ep10 | 1h 23m 40s

Video thumbnail: FRONTLINE Solitary Nation

Now Showing

FRONTLINE

Solitary Nation

With unprecedented access, FRONTLINE exposes the raw reality of solitary confinement.

S32 Ep9 | 53m 40s

Solitary Nation

S32 Ep9 | 53m 40s

Video thumbnail: FRONTLINE Syria's Second Front

FRONTLINE

Syria's Second Front

Two stories from Syria: the fight against extremists, plus children on life in a war zone

S32 Ep8 | 53m 41s

Syria's Second Front

S32 Ep8 | 53m 41s

See All Episodes

Extras From This Episode

Video thumbnail: FRONTLINE "We Didn’t Isolate Them, We Separated Them"

FRONTLINE

"We Didn’t Isolate Them, We Separated Them"

Former warden Gary Henman defends the Marion model from criticism that it is inhumane.

Clip: S32 Ep9 | 13s

"We Didn’t Isolate Them, We Separated Them"

Clip: S32 Ep9 | 13s

Video thumbnail: FRONTLINE "Being Locked Down Was the Worst Medicine"

FRONTLINE

"Being Locked Down Was the Worst Medicine"

Former warden Gary Henman says inmates hate isolation, which is why it usually works.

Clip: S32 Ep9 | 58s

"Being Locked Down Was the Worst Medicine"

Clip: S32 Ep9 | 58s

Video thumbnail: FRONTLINE Fishing in Solitary

FRONTLINE

Fishing in Solitary

Even in solitary, inmates find ways to smuggle contraband from cell to cell.

Preview: S32 Ep9 | 58s

Fishing in Solitary

Preview: S32 Ep9 | 58s

Video thumbnail: FRONTLINE "Behave Yourself"

FRONTLINE

"Behave Yourself"

Former warden Gary Henman on how his Marion model worked to modify inmates’ behavior.

Clip: S32 Ep9 | 39s

"Behave Yourself"

Clip: S32 Ep9 | 39s

Video thumbnail: FRONTLINE "Solitary Nation" - Preview

FRONTLINE

"Solitary Nation" - Preview

With unprecedented access, FRONTLINE uncovers the raw reality of solitary confinement.

Preview: S32 Ep9 | 31s

"Solitary Nation" - Preview

Preview: S32 Ep9 | 31s

Video thumbnail: FRONTLINE A Total Lockdown

FRONTLINE

A Total Lockdown

Former warden Gary Henman on how a 23-year prison lockdown began at Marion federal prison.

Clip: S32 Ep9 | 39s

A Total Lockdown

Clip: S32 Ep9 | 39s

Video thumbnail: FRONTLINE "They Had to Do Something"

FRONTLINE

"They Had to Do Something"

Former warden Gary Henman on why the lockdown at Marion federal prison was necessary.

Clip: S32 Ep9 | 45s

"They Had to Do Something"

Clip: S32 Ep9 | 45s

Video thumbnail: FRONTLINE The Sounds of Solitary

FRONTLINE

The Sounds of Solitary

People think isolation is what drives some prisoners crazy. It might actually be the noise

Preview: S32 Ep9 | 3m 3s

The Sounds of Solitary

Preview: S32 Ep9 | 3m 3s

Video thumbnail: FRONTLINE Flooding in Solitary

FRONTLINE

Flooding in Solitary

Does solitary confinement help or hurt prisoners? Some say it pushes them into insanity.

Preview: S32 Ep9 | 2m 53s

Flooding in Solitary

Preview: S32 Ep9 | 2m 53s

Video thumbnail: FRONTLINE The "Marion Model"

FRONTLINE

The "Marion Model"

Former warden Gary Henman on why he decided to ease restrictions on some Marion inmates.

Clip: S32 Ep9 | 34s

The "Marion Model"

Clip: S32 Ep9 | 34s

Video thumbnail: FRONTLINE "It Only Takes One Rotten Apple"

FRONTLINE

"It Only Takes One Rotten Apple"

Former warden Gary Henman on his strategy at Marion to keep the worst inmates in isolation

Clip: S32 Ep9 | 1m 12s

"It Only Takes One Rotten Apple"

Clip: S32 Ep9 | 1m 12s

See All Extras

You Might Also Like

PBS NewsHour
Washington Week
Amanpour and Company
To The Contrary
Firing Line
The Open Mind