Scared Straight - The Losers Lose Again

• NCJ Number: 80419
• Author(s): J L Galvin
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 15 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Speech presented at the National Legal Aid and Defender Association Annual Convention, November 5, 1979, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Annotation

This speech criticizes the 'Scared Straight' juvenile delinquency program, in which lifers talk to selected youths about prison, and examines other psychological approaches to delinquency prevention.

Abstract

Scared Straight is not a relevant approach to a serious social problem, but must be discussed because it diverts attention from good projects. Close examination of the film on a Scared Straight program in New Jersey prisons reveals that is was based on bad data. Although the film states that all youths depicted were 'bad,' in fact not all had delinquency records and only a small percentage would be considered high risk delinquents. The film also says that kids benefited from the program, but a controlled evaluation of the youths involved showed that, after 6 months, all participants had a 60-percent success rate or had stayed straight and all nonparticipant controls had a 90-percent success rate. As an attitude-focused program, Scared Straight is in the mainstream of delinquency prevention, but all research evidence suggests that those who participate are more likely to become delinquent than those who do not. Proponents of the Scared Straight approach talk about this activity as a single component of a comprehensive social services program for kids identified as potential delinquents. The Cambridge-Somerville project in Massachusetts designed and carried out this service model in the late 1930's and early 1940's. While the initial evaluation concluded that the treatment effort did not work, a 30-year followup supported the idea that intensive psychological treatment can produce lasting damage. Compared to a control group, the treatment group had a higher incidence of crime, poorer health, and less job satisfaction. Scared Straight diverts attention from real problems, notably poverty, sexism, racism, and ageism. For example, blacks have an incarceration rate over 6 times that of whites, and the most victimized group in society is the 16-19-year olds, not senior citizens. Rather than the quick and cheap solution held out by Scared Straight, programs that offer opportunities for youth are needed. The paper includes footnotes and 21 references.