Do Scared Straight Programs Actually Help Teens?

Scared-straight programs - also known as juvenile prevention programs - are often the subject of debate among parents and practitioners in regard to their efficacy and effectiveness. Scared straight programs have a long history, and many families attempt to utilize them for their son or daughter as a way to help get them back on track with their behavior. This could be an effort to decrease crime rates, improve mental health, or even prevent issues that might lead to death….if they worked.  With both males and females being directed toward these juvenile prevention programs, it’s essential to determine if these programs actually work to get teens back on the bandwagon of good behavior. Let’s discuss what a scared straight program might look like, the research behind these types of programs, and why juvenile prevention programs are in effect today. 

Components of a Scared Straight Program

While each program will have its nuance differences, the general idea is the same: to improve teen behavior as to reduce or eliminate future criminal charges, jail time, or death. A scared straight program might be outlined to look something like the following:

• One-on-one sessions with current inmates who can relay stories about what prison is like
• Visiting a local jail 
• Placing the teen in a jail cell for a short period of time
• One-on-one or group therapy and counseling sessions
• Educational programs and courses

To determine what a specific program will be like speaking to the instructors and coaches is the best idea. You’ll then be able to get a glance at what a teen might experience during their time in a juvenile prevention program. Now, let’s dive into the research and see if these programs are even remotely effective.

Scared Straight: The Science

As stated above, scared straight programs are utilized in an attempt to improve the behavior of a teen (and ultimately, prevent them from going to jail or dying). But do they actually help teens get on the right path? According to science, the answer is a resounding no. This is unfortunate, especially since so many similar programs are still in existence - and in turn, that many more families are sending their teens to them in order to get the help they so desperately need.  One study in particular from the International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology referenced the research of scared straight programs from over twenty years ago; based on their results, it was noted that these juvenile prevention programs actually cause more harm than good for the participants. In addition, the research found that out of teens that utilized a scared straight program (versus those who did not), the ones in the programs had higher levels of overall delinquency.   In fact, research has found that scared straight programs “generally increase offending levels with a rate of 1% to 28% in the experimental group relative to a no-treatment control group.” These numbers are staggering and should be worrisome to those contemplating placing a teen into a juvenile prevention program. 

The “Why” Behind Juvenile Program Operations

Now that you know that these scared straight programs don’t actually work for preventing negative teen behavior, you are probably wondering why they are still funded and in operation today. The main reason? Throngs of people continue to advocate and support these programs - even though there is no scientific evidence that progress is made.  Even just something as simple as running some trials on the effectiveness of local scared straight programs requires funding; seeing as how these trials cost money, it’s difficult to rally the support. In the end, the programs remain, all while not really doing what they should be doing. While the thought behind these types of programs is positive, public officials have to determine the best use of taxpayer dollars. 

What’s Next?

It’s hard to say what the future will look like for scared straight programs. It’s easy to see how it might be a quick go-to for parents that are struggling with defiant and sometimes dangerous teenagers, but we also have to consider the background of each teen as well. What is the root cause of their outbursts and behavior? Maybe having a prison inmate yell at them about their possible future isn’t the best path to take.  Instead of trying to scare teens that are making poor choices in this realm, we might need to take a deeper look at compassion and structure before slapping a pair of handcuffs on them for the day.  This doesn’t mean that all programs for troubled teens are ineffective, however. Many different types of situations and scenarios might be a perfect fit for your teenage son or daughter in order to help get them back on the right path. Reach out to the team at Liahona Academy if you feel as though therapy, counseling, positive reinforcement, and improved structure might help your teen in the future.