Imprisoned People Can Do More than ‘Scare’ Kids ‘Straight’

Imprisoned People Can Do More than ‘Scare’ Kids ‘Straight’

In 1978, the Oscar-winning documentary “Scared Straight!” popularized the idea that the best way to prevent young people from incarceration is to scare them. The film focuses on a group of “juvenile delinquents” who get screamed at by hardened prisoners about rape and violence inside adult prisons. The documentary spawned sequels and spinoffs. It remains a cultural touchstone—during Saturday Night Live’s recent 50th Anniversary celebration, star…