Penitentiary is a 1979 American blaxploitation drama film written, produced and directed by Jamaa Fanaka, and starring Leon Isaac Kennedy as Martel "Too Sweet" Gordone, a man who deals with his wrongful imprisonment as a black youth.

Martel Gordone had been wandering aimlessly through the desert when he is finally picked up by an African-American woman driving a van dubbed the "Shaggin' Wagon".

The wailing and begging attracts a lot of attention from other inmates, who cheer for "Half Dead" to rape the newcomer, but in fact Gordone manages to subdue his assailant and rises triumphantly, telling everybody to "back off".

It was notable for the early casting of Mr. T as Gordone's trainer, Glynn Turman as his brother-in-law, and Ernie Hudson recast in the villainous role of "Half Dead".

[10] The plot centers on "Too Sweet" Gordone's time in prison, where he is sent after beating another boxer to death in a performance enhancing drug-fueled fugue state.

The film was released theatrically in the United States by The Cannon Group, Inc.[11] in September 1987 and grossed $1,392,616 at the box office.