History Main / PrisonEpisode

-->-- '''[[spoiler:Lotso]]''', ''ToyStory3''

* The ''{{MacGyver}}'' episodes "The Escape" and "Jack in the Box".
* {{CSI NY}} episode "Redemptio"

* ''{{NCIS}}'': McGee gets tangled up in a women's prison riot in "Caged." The plot revolves on him trying to resolve the conflict and the other characters trying to get him out alive. Notably, he is [[CharacterDevelopment significantly more badass afterwards.]]

* ''{{Supernatural}}'', "Folsom Prison Blues"
* On ''{{Leverage}}'', the season 3 pilot features this after [[spoiler:Nate is voluntarily sent to prison to protect the rest of the team ]]. Notable in that it avoids a dark feel due to the team staging an escape in typical Leverage fashion.
* House [[spoiler:is sent to prison after his actions during the season 7 finale. The first episode of season 8 sees him on the verge of being granted parole. The following episodes go on to inconsistently reference his status as a conditionally released prisoner (he is forced to wear an ankle-mounted GPS, which viewers are sometimes reminded of).]]
* ''{{Victorious}}'' had a one hour special where the gang visits a country named Yerba, and eventually, one [[EyeScream missing eye]] and dead octopus later, everyone gets sent to prison. Andre and Beck have rocks thrown at them, Jade is nearly beat up by another prisoner, and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking Robbie is put on the girl's side]]. They manage to escape thanks to their teacher, though.
* ''{{Seinfeld}}'' the rare example where the Prison Episode is the ''series finale.''

* Used a number of times in the ''LegendOfZelda'' series.
** In the ''Ocarina of Time'' the Gerudo throw Link into some sort of cell, leaving him all of his equipment, and no matter how many times he escapes and gets caught again, they just throw him back in the same cell. With all of his equipment.
** ''A Link to the Past'' had a prison sequence, but made you ''break in'' to save the princess.
** The prison in ''Twilight Princess'' made sense, but the one in ''The Wind Waker'' was truly laughable. Absolutely a CardboardPrison. The way out of the cell is hidden behind a pot (though it would still work wonders at imprisoning moblins... or [[TopHeavyGuy any adult male]], for that matter).

* ''ChronoTrigger'' had one sequence in a prison cell. It followed a very humorous scene and preceded a challenging boss though and thus was better than most. It is especially interesting because the prison lets you keep your sword.

* In ''MaxPayne'', Max is drugged, tied up, whacked with a baseball bat, and still manages to get out and continue his RoaringRampageOfRevenge.

* ''ToyStory3'' has strong prison themes, with [[spoiler:Sunnyside Daycare]] as a prison-equivalent, complete with [[spoiler:a GreatEscape]]. Bonus points for the [[CerebrusSyndrome shock]] [[DarkerAndEdgier value]] of a prison-themed installment in a G-rated {{Pixar}} series.

* ''ToyStory3'' has strong prison themes, with [[spoiler:Sunnyside Daycare]] as a prison-equivalent, complete with [[spoiler:a GreatEscape]]. Bonus points for the [[{{HSQ}} shock]] [[DarkerAndEdgier value]] of a prison-themed installment in a G-rated {{Pixar}} series.

* In "Opening Night" of ''TheSpectacularSpiderMan'', Spidey volunteers to test the security system of The Vault, a prison designed to house super villains.

* ''PhineasAndFerb'' has [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WP08DM3977A Phineas And Ferb Get Busted.]] While what they are sent to is called a reform school, it is most certainly run like a prison.

* ''{{Tales of Symphonia}}'' had Lloyd, the main character, tossed into a Desian prison in the middle of the desert. He busts out on his own, just before the party shows up... too late.

* In ''SplinterCellDoubleAgent'', Sam goes undercover as a prisoner to infiltrate a domestic terror organization and earn their trust.

* In ''ArrestedDevelopment'', the first season has George, Sr. in prison. However, as part of an "[[InsistentTerminology Illusion]]", his son GOB goes to prison for an episode to prove he can escape in 24 hours time. [[spoiler:He escapes when an inmate shivs him and he's taken to a hospital.]]

** Season one has "Imprisoned", where Katara deliberately gets herself imprisoned by the Fire Nation in an attempt to free a friend from said prison.
** Season three has "The Boiling Rock", where Zuko and Sokka infiltrate a Fire Nation prison in the hopes of locating Sokka's father, who had been captured in the war a few weeks earlier.

* ''TheSimpsons'' has several of them, mostly involving the villains, but occasionally major characters (especially Homer, sometimes Marge) end up in jail as well.
* ''AvatarTheLastAirbender'' had two prison episodes (Technically three, since one was a two-parter):

* ''AmericanDad'' has episodes like these. Noticeable when Stan was sent to prison where he enjoys staying and doesn't want to leave.

''{{Victorious}}'' had a one hour special where the gang visits a country named Yerba, and eventually, one [[EyeScream missing eye]] and dead octopus later, everyone gets sent to prison. Andre and Beck have rocks thrown at them, Jade is nearly beat up by another prisoner, and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking Robbie is put on the girl's side]]. They manage to escape thanks to their teacher, though.

** The prison in ''Twilight Princess'' made sense, but the one in ''The Wind Waker'' was truly laughable. Absolutely a CardboardPrison. The way out of the cell is hidden behind a pot.

* ''PhineasAndFerb'' has [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MJwAMY9B1c Phineas And Ferb Get Busted.]] While what they are sent to is called a reform school, it is most certainly run like a prison.

* ''AvatarTheLastAirbender'' seems to enjoy using this trope, perhaps because the show is about fighting a totalitarian state:
** Season one has "Imprisoned", where Katara deliberately gets herself imprisoned by the Fire Nation in an attempt to free friend from said prison, and "The Blue Spirit", where Aang is captured by the Fire Nation.
** Season three has "The Runaway", where Toph and Katara end up in jail, and "The Boiling Rock", where [[spoiler:Zuko]] and Sokka infiltrate a Fire Nation prison.

* House [[spoiler:is sent to prison after his actions during the season 7 finale. The first episode of season 8 sees him on the verge of being granted parole. The following episodes go on to inconsistently reference his status as a conditionally released prisoner (he is forced to wear an ankle-mounted GPS, which viewers are sometimes reminded of).]]

-->- [[spoiler:Lotso]] from ToyStory3.

* Subverted when Chip gets thrown in the brig in ''[[TheRatsBatsAndVats The Rats, The Bats, and The Ugly]]'': he wants to stay in the brig where he gets a mattress and three meals a day. At the front, he doesn't get that.