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SCARED STRAIGHT

NCJ Number
56493
Author(s)
A SHAPIRO
Date Published
1978
Length
0 pages
Annotation
THIS DOCUMENTARY FILM SHOWS A TYPICAL SESSION OF THE JUVENILE AWARENESS PROGRAM (JAP) INITIATED BY INMATES OF RAHWAY, N.J., STATE PRISON TO DETER JUVENILE DELINQUENTS FROM A LIFE OF CRIME.
Abstract
A GROUP OF 17 TEENAGE BOYS AND GIRLS WHO HAVE ALREADY COMMITTED NUMEROUS OFFENSES ARE BROUGHT TO THE PRISON AND PLACED IN A ROOM WITH 20 CONVICTS SERVING TERMS RANGING FROM 25 YEARS TO LIFE. THE INMATES INTIMIDATE THE TEENAGERS BY THEIR REALISTIC DESCRIPTIONS OF PRISON LIFE, ESPECIALLY OF THE VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULTS WHICH TAKE PLACE REGULARLY. THEY ABUSE THE YOUNG DELINQUENTS VERBALLY USING BRUTAL, OBSCENE LANGUAGE, AND THEN EXHORT THEM TO GO STRAIGHT. PRIOR TO THEIR ENCOUNTER WITH THE PRISONERS, THE YOUNG OFFENDERS ARE SHOWN TO BE COCKY, SELF-ASSURED, AND UNREPENTANT; THEY ARE QUICKLY SOBERED AS THEY ARE FORCED TO LISTEN, AND AFTER THE SESSION EACH VOWS TO GO STRAIGHT. PETER FALK, THE NARRATOR, REPORTS AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE FILM THAT 16 OF THE 17 HAD NOT COMMITTED ANY OFFENSE IN THE 3 MONTHS FOLLOWING THE FILMING. IT IS FURTHER REPORTED THAT THE JAP, WHICH HAS BEEN GIVING SUCH TREATMENT TO 24 JUVENILE OFFENDERS EACH DAY FOR THE PAST 3 YEARS, HAS ACHIEVED 80 TO 90 PERCENT SUCCESS IN DETERRING JUVENILE DELINQUENTS FROM CRIME. BROADCAST OVER NETWORK TELEVISION IN MARCH 1979, THE FILM IS INTENDED TO MOTIVATE INMATES, PRISON PERSONNEL, AND JUDGES IN OTHER AREAS OF THE COUNTRY TO DEVELOP SIMILAR PROGRAMS. IT IS FURTHER HOPED THAT YOUNG PEOPLE VIEWING IT WILL ALSO BE 'SCARED STRAIGHT.' FOR A FULL DESCRIPTION OF THE JAP SEE NCJ-50758. (MRS)