the opening scene of the series shows michael's final preparation of his plan to infiltrate fox river state penitentiary; a tattooist is applying the finishing touches to michael's tattoo, which is prominently featured in the first season. in order to get into fox river, michael robs a bank at gun point and pleads no contest at his trial, and requests that he be sent to the prison nearest to his home. michael begins his sentence on april 11, exactly a month before lincoln is set to be executed. once there, he scrutinizes every detail regarding the prison and its inhabitants.