“Controlled studies show that boot camp and “Scared Straight” interventions are ineffective, and even potentially harmful, for delinquents.” — Lilienfeld et al, 2010, p.225
‘Scared Straight’ is a program designed to deter juvenile participants from future criminal offenses. Participants visit inmates, observe first-hand prison life and have interaction with adult inmates. These programs are popular in many areas of the world.
The basic premise of these programs are that juveniles who see what prison is like will be deterred from future violations of the law — in other words, “scared straight.” “Scared Straight” emphasizes severity of punishment, but neglects two other key components of deterrence theory — certainty and swiftness (Mears, 2007).
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“Scared Straight” programs maintain their popularity despite the obvious fact that they don’t work. There have even been incidents of psychologists facing disciplinary action over inappropriate actions in the name of “scaring” teens straight.
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We should just realize that people act according to their circumstances. For instance a guy who is not good at school with a low IQ and poor impulse control is not all of a sudden turn into a high school scholar after seeing some prisoners.
So we need more talk therapy coupled with some perhaps learning opportunities such as job apprectices and more flexible schooling opportunities. Don’t fail kids for playing hooky and truancy, because it will create more problems later. We have to make it easier for them to make it easier for us later.
Everyone supports vocational/job training programs, at least until it’s their kids that get sorted into those programs and told that they aren’t college material
Isn’t that a program from 1974? Perhaps that worked back then, when a kid might boost a neighbor’s car, shoplift or get in a fist fight. Did the program adapt to today’s conditions? Now a 16 yr old who is picked on get an automatic weapon and kills people. And celebrities go to jail like it’s no big thing – even Martha Stewart went to prison, geez, how hard could it be???
Didn’t even work back then.
Scared Straight and Boot Camp programs are too radically different programs. A significant number of juveniles have benefited from Boot Camp programs because of the structured environment and trained mentors who teach and reward productive behavior.