I remember watching the original "Scared Straight" documentary way back when (1978), and it definitely convinced me I'd never want to go to jail!
Wikipedia states there was a sequel and that the recidivism rate of the original two casts of juvenile offenders was less than 10%.
So why are statistics now showing these programs don't work?
Was it just good TV but bad policy, as this blogger says? Too many reality TV shows that have numbed at-risk teens to anything shocking or scary?
What should policymakers and funders replace these programs with?
On the other hand, there is a considerable body of evidence that indicates these programs are not effective. Controlled studies
suggest that though they may intuitively seem effective, Scared Straight programs do not deter crime in youth, and may, in fact, increase delinquency and be detrimental to the juvenile participants.
"Scared Straight!" After All These Years: Bad Policy, but Good TV? | BlogHer
California and Maryland say they have suspended youthful offender prison diversion programs featured on the television show, "Beyond Scared Straight," after the federal government warned they could lose funding.
A prison agency spokesman in South Carolina, which was also featured on the A&E Network series, said Friday that he expects their diversion program to be reviewed by the incoming corrections chief.
The Justice Department says research indicates scared-straight programs don't deter teenagers from offending; in fact, they were more likely to offend in the future.
California suspends scared straight program | News10.net | Sacramento, California | News
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