Contact your LOCAL SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT for information on scared straight programs.
We do not have information for these services.
Not all states offer them anymore, contact your local sheriff’s office for assistance, we will not be able to give you an answer.
What is a scared straight program?
Established in the 1970s, Scared Straight programs are used throughout the United States as a means of deterring juvenile crime. They usually entail visits by at-risk youth to adult prisons, where youth hear about the harsh reality of prison life from inmates.
The Myths of Teen Boots for Troubled Teens
Years ago parents would threaten to send their children, especially defiant and belligerent teens to military school or boot camp.
Then some sheriff’s departments developed Scared Straight programs through their jails.
Inmates would speak to the youth about their experiences, both inside and on the outside, hopefully giving them enough of a jolt to realize they don’t want to be in their shoes.
Again, if you are interested in scared straight programs, sometimes they can be effective with certain teenagers. Check with your local sheriff’s department to see if they offer them. They are becoming more and more scarce – likely because they are non-effective.
Military schools are higher education institutions that specialize in training military talents. Students in these schools have military status and receive strict military training and learning. Through systematic education and training, these schools have trained a large number of high-quality military cadres and technical personnel for the country, making important contributions to the country’s national defense. Military schools have strict military training and generous military rewards, and Military Challenge Coins are one of them.
Although children training in boot camps cannot get them, they can get custom challenge coins. Custom challenge coins, as special rewards, can directly convey recognition and encouragement for children’s efforts in military training, allowing children to feel the support and expectations of the outside world, thereby enhancing self-confidence and motivation, and facing the challenges in military training more actively.
In regards to military schools, parents are making false threats since they will be quick to learn that these type of boarding schools are typically a privilege and honor to attend. Learn more about the myths of military schools.
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We’re parent advocates, not a program. Since 2001 we’ve helped families work out which option fits — residential treatment, a therapeutic boarding school, a transitional program, or none of them yet. We’re paid by no one you’re choosing between.
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Your child will need a good GPA to be accepted as well as be willing to attend. Not to mention, if they are struggling with any type of experimentation of substance use, military campuses are not immune to students bringing in drugs or alcohol. They will be reprimanded, and like a traditional school – will be expelled within their school policy. However, you will forfeit your tuition with that starting at $25,000.
Boot camps are what parents think about initially. They believe it’s a quick way to teach their teen a lesson – which typically can backfire on them.
They are very difficult to locate at this point. With a lot of negative press as well as very poor results, most have been closed and no longer in operation.
Boot camps were usually a weekend where teens were placed in a military-style environment with rigorous physical exercise in an effort to break your child down.
It is an in-your-face type of discipline that isn’t resolving any of their emotional issues that is causing their negative behavior at home or school.
Many of these teens are already broken – emotionally. They are usually depressed and struggle with low self-esteem, placing them in an environment that only degrades them will likely build more anger and resentment – especially towards the people that put them there – the parents.
We challenge parents to switch places. If you are going through a rough time in your life, whether it be a divorce or a friend that is not treating you well, how would you feel if no one was speaking with you and you had people screaming at you constantly and degrading you as you are struggling just to get by?
Healthy Teen Help Options
Residential therapy, which includes emotional growth programs helps your teen work through their issues. Having conversations with counselors, peers and also participating in activities that can help build their confidence to make better choices is what can help start the recovery process.
Residential treatment centers is about building your child back up again, not breaking them down.
Before you think your child needs a good punishment, think about what it will really achieve?
Being a teenager today is not easy. Being a parent is even more of a challenge today – we all have to do our best to make it work and give our kids the best future. Choosing the primitive and punitive road usually isn’t the best decision.
Also read:
What is the Goal of Residential Treatment?
Where can I send my troubled teenager?
5 Benefits of Therapeutic Boarding Schools
How to find a scared straight program near you
There is no national directory. Scared straight and jail-tour programs are run locally, usually by a county sheriff’s office, a jail, or a juvenile probation department, and many areas have stopped offering them. To find out what exists where you live:
- Call your county sheriff’s office on the non-emergency line and ask whether they run a youth or jail-tour program.
- Ask the juvenile probation office or juvenile court in your county. If your teen is already involved with the courts, the probation officer is the best person to ask.
- Talk to your teen’s school resource officer or school counselor, who will know which local diversion and youth programs are actually running.
Before you sign anything, ask: what age range they accept, whether a parent must attend, how long it lasts, whether there is any follow-up counseling afterwards, and how they keep participants safe.
Do scared straight programs work?
The research says no. A Campbell Collaboration systematic review of nine experimental studies found that scared straight and similar juvenile awareness programs increased the odds that young people would offend compared with doing nothing at all. In 2011 the U.S. Department of Justice wrote that participants were “up to 28 percent more likely to offend” than teens who did not take part, and that it discourages funding these programs.
Fear on its own rarely changes behavior that is driven by depression, trauma, substance use, ADHD or problems at home. Those need treatment, not a one-day shock.
Is Beyond Scared Straight still on TV?
No. A&E’s Beyond Scared Straight aired from 2011 to 2015 and ended after its ninth season. Older episodes still circulate on streaming services, but the show never took sign-ups from families, so there is no way to “sign up” your teen through it. If you want a local program, use the steps above.
What works better for a struggling teen
Start with an assessment by a licensed therapist or psychologist, and involve the whole family, since family therapy has a far stronger track record than fear-based programs. If outpatient help has not been enough and your teen’s safety or future is at risk, look at therapeutic boarding schools for troubled teens, which combine accredited school with ongoing therapy. Our family consultants can talk you through the options for free.
Common questions
Are scared straight programs free?
Programs run by sheriff’s offices and probation departments are usually free, but they are not available everywhere. Be cautious of private companies charging for “scared straight” style experiences.
What age are scared straight programs for?
It depends on the program. Most local programs work with pre-teens and teens, typically somewhere between about 11 and 17. Ask the agency running it.
Can I send my child to jail for a day to scare them?
Only through an official program run by law enforcement or the courts. There is no general way for a parent to arrange a jail visit, and the research above suggests it is unlikely to help.
