Lockdown

Avery is a disciplined, ambitious swimmer whose talent attracts a college scout. After being framed for a crime he didn’t commit, he stays focused on clearing his name and supporting his family. His resilience anchors the story as he endures prison life while pursuing justice.

Cashmere is Avery’s best friend and a crack dealer who navigates the dangerous prison hierarchy. He balances loyalty with self-preservation as he allies with Graffiti and later Clean Up. His actions pull the trio deeper into the system’s violence.

Dre is Krista’s brother and Avery’s friend who endures brutal prison dynamics. He is raped by Graffiti and struggles with vulnerability within a brutal system. His arc highlights the costs of power and the fragility of safety in confinement.

Broadway is a rival dealer whose actions help spark the events that lead to the wrongful arrest. His volatile presence drives revenge and consequences within the criminal underworld. His fate intersects with the main trio’s fight for justice.

Graffiti runs the neo-Nazi-tinged gang inside the prison, controlling the drug trade and coercing others. He torments Dre and clashes with rival factions to maintain power. His influence is a central source of prison violence and corruption.

Malachi is an elderly but formidable inmate who mentors Avery for 18 years and ultimately takes responsibility to spare Avery a disciplinary record. His sacrifice and wisdom offer a counterpoint to the brutality around him. He leaves Avery with a symbolic gift that represents knowledge and hope.

Charles is Avery’s college scout who believes in his innocence. He works with his lawyer daughter to appeal the conviction, representing advocacy and perseverance against a flawed system. His determination provides a path toward potential exoneration.

Krista is Avery’s girlfriend and Jordan’s mother. She pushes for justice through the appeals process and remains committed to Avery, despite emotional strain. Her involvement underscores the family stakes and faith in the system to correct wrongs.

Jordan is Avery’s young son, whose existence motivates Avery to seek exoneration. He represents innocence and the personal stakes of the case, grounding the drama in family life amid prison turmoil.

Hill is Avery’s new cellmate who becomes part of the prison’s social fabric and meets a tragic end during the riot, illustrating the fragility of life inside the facility.

Clean Up is a former drug dealer who aligns with Graffiti to control the prison drug trade after Graffiti’s rise. He becomes a key player in the power struggle and ultimately confronts Cashmere and Avery leading to a fatal clash.

Perez is a corrupt guard on Graffiti’s payroll who helps shield brutality within the prison system. His role highlights the complicity of authorities in the power structures that enable violence.