Two states suspended Scared Straight programs on Friday. California and Maryland prison officials, who welcomed producers of Beyond Scared Straight into their high security facilities, are now backing away from the show and the confrontational diversion program for troubled teens. South Carolina is also reviewing the issue, according to mercurynews.com.
The U.S. Department of Justice is warning state officials that scared straight techniques don’t deter young people from crime, and may make them more likely to offend in the future. An op-ed piece published in the Baltimore Sun this week and written by two Justice Department officials says the agency discourages funding for scared straight-type programs, and states that operate them risk losing their federal funding under provisions of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act.
Episodes of Beyond Scared Straight were created inside prisons in California, Maryland and South Carolina for the show that debuted in January on the A&E network.
The Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services began a review of its diversion programs after inmates were shown touching and grabbing kids in the episode. No complaints were filed but J. Michael Stouffer, Maryland Commissioner of Corrections, decided to review the programs as a precaution, according to the Hagerstown Herald-Mail.
Another Maryland program that gives teens one-on-one counseling sessions with inmates has also been cancelled.
JJIE.org reported on Tuesday that Rhode Island suspended its “Scared Straight” program after state officials learned that children as young as 8 were involved.
A nationwide petition drive is calling on the A&E Network to cancel the show and educate the public on the potential dangers of the program.
I went through a scared straight program in Virginia Beach about 20 years ago or so and I wasn’t a gangster or smart mouth kid that did drugs. I was shuffled from foster home to foster home. I was sent there because I had an F on my report card. I remember a 72 year old woman who I assume was the Warden and she had a mouth on her like a sailor. I shook my head no out of nervousness and this C.O. hit me in the head with a collapsible baton and screams at me to “Shut my face!” I didn’t say a word for the whole day. During lunch in the cafeteria some inmate said “What are YOU looking at fatass?” I said that is not my name and I was jumped by two guards who smacked me in the mouth, breaking my jaw. I spat in the same inmate’s face as he smiled. I have a hard time trusting people because of what I went through. People like to make fraudulent judgments and assumptions about who I am and what I went through. I was a sexual assault survivor and I can’t tolerate anything sexual whatsoever
We need more of these programs…
Why council a program that has worked,keep these young punks in line.Maybe if we had scared straight program when nazis took over Germany maybe Hitler would,nt had murder 6 million Jews.For those bleeding heart liberals.I hope that puts some perpestictive on discipline with an intent to rehabiltate and not institutionalized people for profit.
It makes me sad that someone would actually spend time on trying to cancel something that has worked. It may not help every kid but it has been proven to help many. Whom ever is spending their energy trying to cancel this, needs to take a deeper look at themselves to see why they are not supporting a worthwhile program. (most likely grew up with a silve spoon)
I agree whoever is trying to cancel this program does not have teenage kids in public school. Now day’s kids see all the glory of crime on television but nobody talks about consequences. Scared straight shows them what happen when you get caught or in some cases what happens when mommy and daddy can’t save you it shows them the real life. The people trying to stop this program have never lived in the so called hood so there blind to crime and the consequences of it.Kids need to see the real things that could happen if they continue on the path they are going. Show them it’s not all Rosie like they think.
that is the stupidist thing they could done, my daughter needs this asap i am begging for help shes only 12 looking for love in wrong ways i need this show to help scare her lil ass straight for real how the hell is the department of justice gonna decide that it wont work and just make them offend in the futur. let the people decide…
how stupid to end a program like this. Being a correctional officer in the past, I can see the regrets, the ” I wish someone whould of talked to me” from the inmates… it is stupid to cancel a real life experience. There are alot of regrets in prison, the one’s that are in there are the ones most passionate about other’s not living like dogs and following their footsteps, really, it aint no way to live… they need to keep those programs because experience and regrets speaker louder than anything else.
I believe that the Scared Straight Program is a good program that simply needs some re-construction. It is my opinion that the inmates should not be allowed to touch or call the children names. I have seen the episodes and as an ex-felon myself it bothered me to see the women and men inmates all in the children’s face yelling and calling them names. I seen a girl inmate call a little girl a hoe. We all know that is just not right. Now what should happen is the children and the Correctional Officers take a tour with the inmates doing their normal thing. The children should dress in inmate jump suites and if the inmates do speak to the children they should just keep it real and talk to them about how life is in prison..not yell. Trust me the women in prison are not walking around yelling at each other and calling each other hoe’s. I served 12 years in Chowchilla womens prison in California and it is no picnic but it is something that should be told to a child in a serious conversation from someone who has been there.I wish someone would have took me and showed me what I had to look forward to. I had no clue. Now I do and live a blessed life. Thank you for reading…
Well suprmele you made it. I was lucky to have scare straight program when I was young but it wasn’t very popular back then the program only lasted a year or so but the program they have now is a real reality check witch children need the real life behind bars and who is better then to teach them but those who are living in it. My best episode was the first one the womans prison Chowchilla that has been the best one I seen so far the inmates where first harsh with the kids but the end they showed the girls the softer side of them the show to me was the best because the inmates related more with the kids not
the officers on these new show’s its more officers
then inmates. But for these goverment program who’s against this program I don’t see you guys comming up with a better solution to help kids our system has failed our children along with everything else.
The first time I saw this program “Scared straight” I loved it! As I kept watching, it got to be very interesting. I love how kids with problems get advice from real people in prison. These kids aren’t bad kids there just crying out in there own way for help! This program with officers and inmates would of really helped these kids a lot. My Family, friends and I are sad to see this program cancelled. Instead they keeping on the air some dumb reality shows that don’t even help a poor soul. God Bless!
I have been to jail before, and if I would have had the Beyond Scared Straight Program I think that it would haved helped me. I had to find out the hard way and i dont believe all kids should should only find out that way they should be able to see what there doing and where it can lead to
HI JJR
I AM REALLY SORRY TO HEAR THAT, HOW ARE YOU DOING NOW?
IT IS REALLY SAD YOU HAD TO LEARN THE HARD WAY,
IF YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS? IT WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL,I AM AT MY WIT END. AND HE MAY FIND OUT THE HARD WAY LIKE YOU HAD TO, AS I AM DISABLE AN HAVE NO MONEY TO SEND HIM TO A BOOT CAMP
TAKE CARE N GOD BLESS YOU
JAYNE
The show should be kept on in the places mentioned. It is funny to see these young ‘bad ass’ kids come in and try to think they can beat the system, until they come face to face with a real live convict, telling them how it really is inside for their own good. Some improve, some won’t, in the end the ones who don’t, will end up in prison as somebody’s bed mate. Then they will get the experience they wish they hadn’t. Religion only masks the real criminals hiding behind it anyways.
HI RAY
I HAVE GONE THAT RITE WITH MY GRANDSON IT ONLY LASTED A MONTH N BACK TO HIS SAME WAYS AN DID NOT WANT TO GO TO CHURCH ANYMORE. I THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE A GREAT ROUTE TO TRY, UNTIL I FOUND OUT THEY CANCELLED THE PROGRAM, AN WITH NO MONEY I JUST AT MY WIT END. IF YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS PLEASE HELP, THANK YOU VERY MUCH RAY AND GOD BLESS YOU
JAYNE
I HAVE BEEN WATCHING THIS SHOW N HAVE SEEN HOW WELL IT WORKS, EVEN IF IT SAVE 1CHILD IT IS WORTH IT, I AM SO SO SO DISAPPOINTED THAT THE PROGRAM HAS STOPPED IN CALIF. AS I REALLY NEED SOMETHING LIKE THIS FOR MY GRANDSON, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE. AN I HAVE SEEN SUCH PROGRESS OUT OF THE MAJORITY OF THE TEENS!!! SO THEY ARE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT. AGAIN I AM SO UPSET THAT THEY CANCELLED IT IN CA. I THINK THAT IS REALLY A BIG MISTAKE. SO NOW I DON’T KNOW WHERE TO Turn, AS BEING A SINGLE PARENT I HAVE NO MONEY FOR A BOOT CAMP OR OTHER Programs, SO I GUESS I JUST WAIT FOR HIM TO END UP IN JAIL. THAT TROUBLES ME SO MUCH, THAT IF YOU DON’T HAVE MONEY THEN YOU ARE Screwed, IF ANYONE KNOW OF SOMETHING I REALLY NEED YOUR Help. GOD BLESS
Not at all surprised an ultra liberal, back a$$wards state like California would suspended a common sense program like this. If something makes sense, it’s a sure bet California is going to do the complete opposite. This is OBVIOUSLY a LAST CHANCE program, to be employed when ALL other options have failed. It’s not going to work for everyone, but these are people that are virtually guaranteed to wind up in the penitentiary, so if it reaches just 20 or 30% of the people that go through the program that makes a HUGE difference. Scrap it because inmates intimidated and heaven forbid, actually TOUCHED participants?? Give me a break. Now if one of the participants was brutally attacked (which HASN’T happened) there MIGHT be a case for tweaking the program, but that kid’s gonna sue and be set for life for the kind of beating they’ve probably dished out themselves many times out on the streets.
Well, folks this is more spiritual than the natural world is willing to accept. These children are lost, because our world is lost. I watch these programs and am amazed with its unwillingness to see religion (more specifically Christ) as the answer. Ephesians 6:12 (KJV) 12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Man’s biggest mistake is that he believes he can save the world and its citizens. Our world is ill fated, and will only be changed through Jesus.
I see the children on these ‘Scared Straight’ programs with Satanic shirts (skull & bones, demonic images, etc.), this tells me much, but the natural man don’t recognize the implications. I do like the program, and to some degree think it is probably more of a deterrent for low risk children.
The Book of Revelation 12:9 tells us that Satan has already deceived the world (even the very elect). I believe his biggest deception is that most people don’t believe he even exists. I wish that the prison ministries would get more involved with this program, as it is obviously secular. Souls need saving, more so, than man’s accountability to other men. These children need to know, that Hitler and Mao, weren’t able to come here and murder millions (snuff out lives forever) and there are no consequences for their actions. Why would anyone have children in such a hopeless world. If Jesus didn’t die for us, we are all doomed.
God tells us don’t fear the one who can kill the body, fear the one that can kill the body and cast the soul into hell (Matthew 10:28).
Our world with the increasing knowledge of technology is headed for a very dark future as technology and freedom are incompatible. All one has to do is tune in to the news to see unemployment numbers rising, the economies of the world going belly up, world conflicts, corporate slavery, men murdering their families, crime, pedophiles, homosexuality, fornication rampant, governments treating their citizens like terrorists (at airports), false flags like 911 (an inside job), etc. Man is a liar, and Jesus implores us not to trust in him, he has but a breath in him…(Isaiah 2:22).
I can simply go to my place of employment just to see in your face evil (i.e. arrogance, hard hardheartedness, self importance, meanness, etc.). The verse below expresses our (man’s) doomed future if left unchecked by Jesus. I challenge anyone to dispute its truth…2 Timothy 3:13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
What many people don’t seem to realize is that we are using CRIME to deter CRIME. What’s the most effective arguments these programs use to “deter” kids from crime? Is it the ordered routines and constricted freedoms of a well maintained and governed prison system? Or is it the the ILLEGAL violence and intimidation perpetrated on weak offenders by stronger offenders and sometimes even correctional officers themselves? We’ve done more than just throw our hands up and give up on ever trying to rehabilitate inmates. We’ve decided to use the FAILURE of the system as a “deterrent”. The concept is flawed. You can’t use crime to fight crime. Simply making someone fear consequences is a cheap fix. Helping them understand why they should do the right things in life, for the sake of being a better person is a more difficult but better long term solution. When life puts pressure on people without the right moral foundations, then they will in some way shape or form break. Maybe out of fear many won’t become “criminals” but maybe they become drug and alcohol addicts, or suicidal. It’s time to think past quick and easy fixes, becomes as human beings there’s nothing simple about us whatsoever.
What you may or may not understand is that we as parents of a troubled teen have tried almost everything for our child to do right & get his act together. We still get the constant lies, breaking into my room, stealing, failing grades, doesn’t want to apply himself to anything but Playstation & Basketball. He’s 15, & because I grew up around folks whose traits I see in him, I see the path he’s heading down. I can see my childs future. I would love to put him in the Prison system for a day or a week to get a clear understanding of the other side because it seems that me saying so is not a reallity to him. I personally don’t see a crime permitted. I see a possibly rehabilitated person putting fear into a youth to let them ask themself”IS THIS THE LIFE I REALLY WANT” 4 walls, 23 hour lock down, can’t see my family or friends. taking orders all day, possibly raped, beaten, killed etc….. This is an exceptional program for troubled TEENS!!!! I don’t see a flaw in this if it works for at least one youth then its an achievment. Everything is not for everybody, you just have to find the piece to lifes puzzle that works for YOU & YOUR FAMILY. YOU CAN NOT SPEAK FOR EVERYONE ELSE!!!!!
I love the program my kids and I watch it i think it would be a bad idea to suspend the program because the program works and we need programs like this to help kids to see and know what can happen that it is not a joke and it is not all fun and games and to value there life and others. The program might not help all but some is better tan none.
the scared straight program is one of the best programs created for troubled youth. I should know because I was one of the kids invited in 1979. I grew up in one of the roughest parts of Baltimore, the Lexington Terrace projects, and grew up with some the hardest criminals in Baltimore. Also that program offered a lot a choices to see the life that would happen if you didn’t make that change and a lot of kids did make the change and became better for it. So to those who never lived the life and those who are making these decisions based on your belief that the program is wrong, its like you looking at a car book than telling a car mechanic that you know how to fix it
I really think that it would b great to keep these programs in the jails because there r a lot of inmates that do turn there life around when there in there and have a lot to share with troubled teens.I really think that they would get through to them. My big question is that I am trying to get into a program to help kids on the outside of jail. But it is very hard because I was in jail at one time but feel that I can help and relate to a lot of troubled teens because that was me at one time but turned my life around and know want to help kids that went through the same things that I did. I have tryed everything in life but feel that my heart is to help kids.If anyone knows or could give me some help what to do please email me back?
I personally have been in prison and wish that someone had taken the time before I got there to set me “straight”. Prison is no joke and I think that taking little ones in is a wonderful program so that those that are still capable of changing their route will do so.
Recently I received a latter from “Scrappy” which was on the California episode in Valley State Prison and she speaks about how she likes teaching the youth about how horrible it is inside since she herself will never have the opportunity to get out.
I don’t think that inmates try to make prison look good in these programs and it would be wonderful if there was more programs in schools so that maybe we could stop all the “drop outs” of our high schools, all the issues with gangs and violence, and maybe show kids that looking towards a better future is the only way to go.
I say that we should take as many kids into prison and show them that a prison sentence should never be an option in life.
What’s her Cdc# or name … I wanna send her a letter
The public schools have problems with kids mouthing off and having no respect for teachers because they know the teachers can’t touch them. The same thing will happen with these programs if they prohibit the kids from being touched. These kids have no problem beating up one of their friends or someone they want to steal from so why is it an issue that they are touched or grabbed in an effort to get their attention and help them see the seriousness of where they are headed? If they end up in jail they will be more than touched and no one will be there to stop it so why not give them a taste of it now? Why oh why are the kids still running the systems??!!!
I work for a juvenile hall as a Correctional Officer. I was really glad to see the program back. I feel that someone of these juveniles need something like this. Way too many of them glorify prison and think its nothing. They should start at an age of 12 and up. I deal with minors that come from a broken home, gangs, abuse, with parents that don’t know what to do anymore and pray that their children make it home. I feel if the parent is giving their consent to let their children know what it is like to be in a prison to save their children then so be it. I would even go one step further as to call a program “Extreme Scared Straight”. Maybe have a few Correctional Officers act as an imate and take a kid out of line where there is a blind spot. And the reason I say that is there is way too many kids dying and going to prison. So I truly hope the program continues. Maybe they should do a documentary on the kids from the past programs. It would be sad to see the program go.
I challenge the agencies criticizing these programs to find a more suitable solution. The kids that are sent to this are kids that have had every other method of intervention and this is their parents/guardians/case workers last ditch effort to make a difference. I know for certain that when I was a child, entering into an institution and seeing prison life first hand would have certainly had an impact on me. Sure other programs work great MOST of the time. But what about when they dont? Do we just say “forget it- we tried our best” and hope for the best or do we actually keep trying- keep pushing forward until something inside the minds of these children clicks?
I RECENTLY RETIRED FROM THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. I BELIEVE THAT IF THIS PROGRAM WAS AVAILABLE IN NEW YORK CITY, AT LEAST HALF OF THE DEFENDANTS THAT DID COME BEFORE ME WOULD NOT HAVE. I THINK IT’S A SHAME THAT ANYONE WOULD NOT WANT THIS PROGRAM EXPANDED NATION WIDE. I FEEL THAT MOST OF THOSE THAT OBJECT TO IT, HAVE NOT LIVED IN TROUBLED HOUSEHOLDS OR THE INNER CITY AND HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED HARDSHIPS THAT OUR YOUTH HAVE. I PRAY FOR IT TO CONTINUE.
BRAVO TO THIS CONCEPT.
I live in nj and boaut 1969 i attended a scard straight program in rahway state prison in rahway nj. the program worked for me.I taught me how the prisoners live.i swore to my mom after that program i would never get locked up or ever have to have her come to police station to get me or bail me out of anything. it’a a shame that they are pulling this program there are so many kids i think could benefit from this program….
With such well-documented evidence of the potentially harmful effects of fear-based programs like this, states who allow these programs to operate not only risk their federal funding because of JJDPA violations, they open themselves up to civil litigation. It’s unconscionable that taxpayer dollars would be used to support a program that has demonstrated iatrogenic effects.