Corby is a struggling husband, father, and former commercial artist battling severe alcohol and prescription drug dependencies. After a tragic accident involving his young son, he is sentenced to three years in prison at Yates Correctional Institution. He struggles with deep-seated shame, intense anxiety, substance dependency, and a desperate desire to atone for his actions while attempting to survive the harsh realities of the carceral system.

Corby’s practical and emotionally reserved wife. She is thrust into unimaginable grief following the death of her son and the revelation of her husband's substance dependency. Unsure of her marriage's future, she establishes firm boundaries to protect herself and her surviving daughter while managing the complex emotions of anger and loss.

Emanuel "Manny" DellaVecchia is an inmate serving his second term at Yates Correctional Institution. Pragmatic and observant, he eventually becomes Corby’s cellmate and closest confidant. Manny understands the unwritten rules of prison survival and frequently offers Corby unrequested but vital advice. He acts as a steady emotional anchor in an otherwise hostile and unpredictable environment.

The twin toddler children of Corby and Emily Ledbetter. Niko is tragically killed in an accident caused by Corby’s impaired driving, an event that shatters the family and drives the core narrative. Maisie, the surviving twin, must endure the profound absence of her brother and the sudden incarceration of her father. She exhibits behavioral changes and shyness as she processes the immense surrounding trauma.

Corby’s parents, who have vastly different relationships with their son. Vicki is a nurturing, free-spirited mother who offers Corby immediate shelter and unconditional support, though she sometimes deflects difficult conversations about her own habits. Dr. Corbin Ledbetter is an emotionally distant zoologist whose harsh judgments and past abuse have left deep psychological scars on Corby.

A vulnerable, emotionally volatile young Indigenous inmate of Wequonnoc heritage at Yates. With a history of entering the foster care system and acting out violently, Solomon struggles to adapt to prison life and faces severe bullying from other inmates. He is assigned to work on the grounds crew alongside Corby, sparking a transformative mentorship.

A trauma-informed psychologist specializing in partners processing grief. She provides a structured, non-judgmental space for the Ledbetters to work through their loss and anger. Even when Corby is incarcerated, her clinical advice regarding staying active and focusing on the present serves as a crucial guiding philosophy for his daily survival.

The compassionate librarian at Yates Correctional Institution. Distinctive for wearing a headscarf due to cancer treatments, she treats inmates with a rare level of humanity and respect. She recognizes Corby's artistic background and encourages his creative expression, acting as a cultural guardian within the prison's bleak walls.

The diverse staff employed at Yates Correctional Institution. They embody the systemic power dynamics of the prison environment. While some officers use their positions to harass and exploit vulnerable inmates, others attempt to perform their duties with basic decency and pragmatism. Their varied behaviors dictate the daily survival conditions for the incarcerated population.

A corrupt and vindictive correctional officer at Yates Correctional Institution. Benefiting from nepotism as the warden's nephew, Piccardy abuses his authority with impunity. He frequently targets Corby for psychological and physical harassment, embodying the systemic cruelty and lack of accountability within the carceral system.

A pragmatic and relatively fair correctional officer at Yates. While maintaining institutional authority, Cavagnero shows basic decency toward inmates, offering Corby early advice on survival and checking in on his mental health. He is instrumental in assigning Corby to the grounds crew.

A counselor at Yates who manages inmate grievances and administrative issues. She is empathetic to Corby's struggles but transparent about the limits of her power, often warning him against challenging the prison's entrenched and retaliatory hierarchy.

Emily’s mother and a breast cancer survivor. She has always maintained a cold, skeptical view of Corby, which turns into outright hostility following the tragic accident. She acts as a fierce, uncompromising protector of her daughter and surviving grandchild.

The lead detective investigating the circumstances of the fatal incident. Sharp and uncompromising, she immediately suspects inconsistencies in Corby’s initial story and presses him relentlessly to uncover the truth about his impairment.

The defense attorney hired by Corby's father. Pragmatic and legally strategic, she initially advises Corby to construct a narrative that might invalidate his blood test results, focusing solely on minimizing his legal exposure.

A member of AA who recognizes Corby from the news. Having caused a tragic drunk driving accident himself, Dale offers Corby a crucial perspective on living with permanent guilt and serves as his early sponsor in sobriety.

An inmate at Yates who leads the AA meetings and works as Mrs. Millman’s assistant in the library. He is knowledgeable about the library's resources and helps guide newer inmates toward educational materials.

An older, terminally ill inmate serving a 50-year sentence. A former activist, Lester is highly educated on the systemic failures of the carceral state but turns cold toward Corby upon learning the nature of his crime.

Corby’s first cellmate. A paranoid white supremacist who scavenges cigarette butts, Pug heightens Corby’s early terrors of prison life before being violently removed from the cell following an altercation.

A correctional officer at Yates who frequently partners with Kyle Piccardy. He acts as a willing accomplice in Piccardy's severe abuses of power, helping to terrorize and exploit the vulnerable inmate population.