California suspends scared straight program

[The Straight Story]

California suspends scared straight program


HAGERSTOWN, MD (AP) -- 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.

The agency says states that run such programs risk having their federal funding cut if they don't comply with the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act.

http://www.news10.net/news/story.aspx?storyid=121371&catid=2

[antigone382]

1. I would really love if they got rid of those mock car wrecks in high school too.

We had one of those at a school of mine just a few months after a girl had died in a (non-alcohol-related) car crash. It was horribly traumatizing for many of her friends. Those scare tactics are ineffective, misguided, and don't account for people who may be dealing with recent traumatic events and can be easily triggered. PTSD is real, it is common, and it has legitimate chemical, neurological, and psychological effects. I'm not saying not to present kids with reality, but the high-charged fear tactics are counterproductive.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. Hmm I am torn

I know of a few kids who were scared straight after an autopsy and a visit to the local jail (in Mexico) but I also knew a few we picked up a week or two later after a shooting.