The A&E show “60 Days In” follows seven participants as they voluntarily go undercover in the jail to help to shed light on possible drugs, contraband and gang activity. The participants live as inmates for 60 days. The new season featuring the Utah County Jail began Thursday on A&E.

“Ultimately, we couldn’t reproduce an audit like this,” said Utah County Sheriff Mike Smith. “If you really want a close look at what’s going on in there, I don’t know how else you could do it.”

Smith said jail officials know that drugs sometimes make it into the facility, even though they have many precautions in place. “We have to scan everything. You name it, they’re figuring out how to get it in there,” he said.

That is why Smith told the participants that he really wanted them to pay attention to the possibility of narcotics and contraband in the facility and how they’re getting in. “If we can tighten up how it’s getting into the facility, at the end of the day, we’re doing a really good job,” he said.

He said he also wanted the undercover inmates to look at short-term programming, how to better help those who are there for short two- to three-week stays as well as paying attention to other needs of the inmates.

The seven participants came from different parts of the country and were screened by the production company, coming from a variety of backgrounds with a variety of reasons for wanting to participate. Cameras recorded the goings-on inside the jail as the participants interacted with other inmates.

The process began in January, with filming wrapping up in mid-April. Overall, Smith said it was a positive experience. “We made some changes immediately and we’re working on other changes that came out of the process.”

Smith said he feels a strong desire to help those who are in jail due to problems associated with addictions. “If you’re only here a month and we can’t get you clean in a month, programming is never going to work,” he said. “If we can get you clean and you have some clarity of thought and we have some programming in place, you might think, ‘I want more out of my life.'”

“60 Days In” is in its ninth season, taking place at a different jail each time. There will be 13 episodes this season from the Utah County Jail.