Beyond Scared Straight

I'll start by saying anyone who have it a low score for abusing children obviously doesn't understand the premise of the show. It's to teach kids what their possible future is of wanting to be a bad***. Some say the yelling, violence, are overboard and not realistic. True, maybe not every single person in jail is like that. But a good majority are.

And if you pretend your a tough guy and end up in jail, some of the actual tough guys will do what they want with you. Stealing your shoes, clothes, beating you, even raping you.... this is jail life. Most of the kids that broke down are the exact type of person an inmate will target if they actually end up in jail. That's not a guess, its fact.

As for corrupt cops in the show. No, it's called a show. The parents sign a waiver that says their child will be exposed to frightening things. Obviously only to a certain degree. Again, its to instill a fear of jail so they straighten up. Plenty of times the cops have boundaries with what the inmates can do. Most programs the kids go into a jail is about 1-2 hours real world time. The interaction with inmates is just a part of it.

If only one child per episode changes, then the program did its job. If you feel offended by the show then you missed the whole point. Now I will say that I think there are better options of course to change a teens behavior. But this would be more of a last resort option. And many parents have said it was indeed the only option left.

In scared straight, you will see a compilation of insulting, volgure, and quite frankly embarrassing behavior from "respectable officers", showing just how corrupt the police system is. If a normal person behaved this way to 10-16 year olds they would be locked away for years for disorderly conduct, verbal assault to a child, and assault to a minor. This shows real name should be "above the law, and can't be tamed." They use homosexual prisoners to tell the children how they should get in there cells and in addition threaten them sexually and the officers threaten to put them in calling them "fresh meat" and how they "like little boys". They give children who are in need of phsychiatric help a chance to be racist, homophobic, and have ptsd and an extreme fear of officers. They yell at there mom or act aggressive to anyone and they get to get scarred for life but yet people say it's not hard enough, let's just start beating them too. It's a viscouse cycle of aggression and fear with the people/children and police officers and government officials. This show will show you just how above the law you are if you're a cop.

Absolutely great show that helps kids realize what can happen to them. This show should be a mandatory school program for all schools. Just so that we nip them it in the bud. People who think this is too much are made of cheese and don't understand what this show is all about. But there is a way to make them see they just need to go through the same program

Beyond Scared Straight is an outstanding show in which troubled teens are sent to jails around the country to see what its going to be like should they find themselves on the inside. Scare tactics are often used, but the effectiveness, while positive on most, falls far short for others. Frankly, I would love to see this program extended in such a manner that these kids REALLY get a taste of jail life. I think by picking these kids up in front of their friends by the local Sheriff's Departments upon exit from school on a Friday afternoon and dropping them back off to school on the following Monday morning just before the start of classes would be far more effective then giving them a half day experience going from one section of the jail to another. Today's kids are some of the most disrespectful ever, and with parents working longer and longer hours while trying to make a living like never before, many of these at risk kids are failing to receive the attention they need during the riskiest time of their lives. Today's kids roll their eyes, look the other way, bad mouth their parents and teachers like never before. They truly need a rude awakening. I think this can only be done in the most severe cases by letting them spend a full weekend in jail, where they should be treated as close to an inmate as possible while protecting them from injury.

The program itself is Awesome, I only wish it was for a full month, to truly knock some sence into these delinquent children. These parents also need some sort of guidance on how to handle and deal with these "out of control" children. I for one would at the first sign of disobedience, lock their bedroom windows and doors, remove any mobile phone and computer. Unfortunately, these parents are not stepping up to plate in discipline... and while it's great to send these children for "in jail" experience and I hope they do change their life around. The parents should also be coached in some sort of Parenting Class, to learn HOW TO BETTER TEACH THEIR CHILDREN. All behavior stems from what the parent allows or does not allow... Teach the parents... children will follow what is taught.