By Adriana M. Chávez
El Paso Times
EL PASO, Texas — National Geographic’s “Lockdown” documentary television show is known for featuring life at some of the country’s grittiest jails and prisons.
While featuring El Paso County’s two jails, show producers said jail life here reflects El Paso’s safest-city status — calm and friendly but strict and efficient.
The “Lockdown” crew has been filming at the El Paso County jail in Downtown and at the El Paso County Jail Annex in Montana Vista for the past three weeks. They’ve been spending their final days in El Paso “tying up loose ends” and filming last-minute interviews and environmental shots.
“We heard this was the safest city in America, and I’ve seen what I’ve expected,” said producer David Smith. “We haven’t seen a lot of belligerence.”
Smith said the aim of the show is to give viewers an informative and educational look at jail and prison life at various facilities in the United States. The show is in its sixth season. An airdate for the El Paso episode has yet to be scheduled.
Crew members decided to explore the two El Paso County jails in an effort to tie the episode with another on “Border Wars,” which also was filmed here, Smith said.
“We thought El Paso might be interesting because it’s a border town. All the eyes of the world are on this region,” Smith said, referring to the drug-cartel violence in Juárez.
Members of the show’s crew said the main difference they’ve noticed in El Paso, compared with jails in other cities, is the lack of racial strife among inmates. Here, they said, the tensions are mostly related to gangs.
Detention Officer Yvette Rodriguez, who was interviewed by the show’s crew, said she enjoyed participating in the filming.
“It’s a very good feeling that we’ll be seen nationally,” Rodriguez said. “We’re very dedicated, and we take our jobs seriously. A lot of times, people see our job as not important, that we just baby-sit. It’s more than that.”
Smith said that though he’s become comfortable being inside jails and prisons during filming, he’s learned to appreciate his freedom.
“I wouldn’t want to be incarcerated here. I love my freedom too much,” Smith said.
On Thursday, Smith interviewed Gabriel Roman, 20, who is accused of stealing a vehicle on Feb. 7 from the 1400 block of Bryce Street in Horizon City. Roman had been featured in this week’s Manhunt Monday fugitive program and agreed to be interviewed.
“I’ve got a girl and two kids. They’re worried about me, and I’m worried about them, too,” Roman said.
Roman, who said he’s been jailed twice before, said he doesn’t enjoy being incarcerated.
“I’d rather be at my house with my family,” Roman said.
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