Beyond Scared Straight is a reality television series that aired on A&E from 2011 to 2015. The series follows troubled

teenagers Adolescence () is a transitional stage of physical and psychological development that generally occurs during the period from puberty to adulthood (typically corresponding to the age of majority). Adolescence is usually associated with the te ...

who spend one to three days in

prison A prison, also known as a jail, gaol (dated, standard English, Australian, and historically in Canada), penitentiary (American English and Canadian English), detention center (or detention centre outside the US), correction center, correc ...

to learn from the inmates about the realities of being incarcerated. The series was inspired by the 1978 American documentary

Scared Straight! ''Scared Straight!'' is a 1978 American documentary directed by Arnold Shapiro. Narrated by Peter Falk, the subject of the documentary is a group of juvenile delinquents and their three-hour session with actual convicts. Filmed at Rahway St ...

. Both the police and the prisoners bully and harass the troubled teens in every episode. In June 2015, the network announced the series will end after season 9 which concluded September 3, 2015.

Summary

Based on 1978 American documentary Scared Straight!, profile juvenile crime prevention programs in prisons across the United States. In each hourlong episode follows a handful of at-risk teenagers. Each episode begins with an interview of each teen discussing why they are always getting in trouble. Afterward, they meet up and enter the facility to go through the

booking Booking may refer to: * Making an appointment for a meeting or gathering, as part of event planning/scheduling * The intake or admission process into a prison or psychiatric facility. * ''Booking'' (manhwa), a Korean comics anthology magazine pub ...

process. They must remove

jewelry Jewellery ( UK) or jewelry (U.S.) consists of decorative items worn for personal adornment, such as brooches, rings, necklaces, earrings, pendants, bracelets, and cufflinks. Jewellery may be attached to the body or the clothes. From a western ...

, their

belt Belt may refer to: Apparel * Belt (clothing), a leather or fabric band worn around the waist * Championship belt, a type of trophy used primarily in combat sports * Colored belts, such as a black belt or red belt, worn by martial arts practit ...

hat A hat is a head covering which is worn for various reasons, including protection against weather conditions, ceremonial reasons such as university graduation, religious reasons, safety, or as a fashion accessory. Hats which incorporate mecha ...

s and

sunglasses Sunglasses or sun glasses (informally called shades or sunnies; more names below) are a form of protective eyewear designed primarily to prevent bright sunlight and high-energy visible light from damaging or discomforting the eyes. They can s ...

if they wear them, and relinquish other personal possessions. In some episodes, the teens wear the jumpsuits. They go to the cell blocks and see the reality behind bars. They interact with the inmates. Next, they eat the prison meal. Then, they are put inside a cell. They meet up with the prisoners, telling their stories of how they ended up in jail. The teens will then interact with their parents through the

prison visitor A prison visitor is a person who visits prisons to befriend and monitor the welfare of prisoners in general, as distinct from a person who visits a specific prisoner to whom they have a prior connection. Prisons may also have a visiting committee. ...

telephone. Finally, when they leave, they get a second chance where get a follow-up a month later. The episode ends with the latest update. Some changed their ways while some didn't.

Episodes

Season 1

Season 2

Season 3

Season 4

Season 5

Season 6

Season 7

Season 8

Season 9

Controversy

Criticism

Two

Department Of Justice A justice ministry, ministry of justice, or department of justice is a ministry or other government agency in charge of the administration of justice. The ministry or department is often headed by a minister of justice (minister for justice in a v ...

officials argued that the program was “not only ineffective but is potentially harmful." The series has been criticized due to the teens being in jail for adults which were considered life threatening and dangerous, and that the show violated the federal Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA).

Related shows

* ''

The World's Strictest Parents ''The World's Strictest Parents'' (or ''World's Strictest Parents'') is an international television franchise reality series developed by Twenty Twenty with its original broadcast in the United Kingdom by BBC Three. There are also many other i ...

'' * ''

The Principal's Office ''The Principal's Office'' is a reality TV program on TruTV that began airing on August 21, 2008, released through Leftfield Pictures. New episodes resumed on January 8, 2009. However, the series was abruptly cancelled on February 5, 2009. Synops ...

'' * ''Teen Trouble'' * ''Sleeping with the Family'' *

References

{{A&ENetwork Shows 2010s American reality television series 2011 American television series debuts 2015 American television series endings A&E (TV network) original programming English-language television shows Television series about teenagers