Beyond Scared Straight

2013 • A&E
4.7
611 reviews
TV-14
Rating
Eligible
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Season 3 episodes (17)

1 Boston, MA (Girls)
8/20/12
Season-only
In a city where your neighborhood defines your gang, four at-risk teen girls endure a day in a female jail and learn where their lives are headed. Though they walk into the jail together, the teens will turn on one of their own. Thalia, 15, is a frightening street brawler (she's even hit her own grandmother) who takes her fight to the inmates and deputies. When she refuses to taste jail food, the other teens on the force her. Jahmiya, 15, incurs the wrath of female inmates with thick Boston accents, when she uses a derogatory hand gesture. But it is Jahmiya, the scrappy thief, who leads the other female delinquents to gang up on Thalia, forcing her to take in parts of jail life no one should have to stomach. Pot-smoking Tina, 16, is shocked when deputies chain all the teens together.
2 Jacksonville, FL
8/27/12
Season-only
In Jacksonville, Florida, four at-risk teens attend a three-part "scared straight" tour. Towering over nearly everyone, KeShawn, 15, is intimidated by no one. But when KeShawn witnesses his pint-sized little brother, Kevon, suffering the terrifying consequences of trying to imitate his big bro, KeShawn breaks down, and gets a glimpse of what the future holds for both of them. Also, Johnny, a white, self-proclaimed racist, endures the wrath of the black inmate population.
3 St. Clair, IL
10/4/12
Season-only
Troubled teens that attend the St. Clair County Jail diversion program take a lie detector test that reveals some shocking secrets. Inmates "Ice Mike" and "Hustle Man" return (from last season) to confront a BMX-riding stoner, a fearless gangster, a terrorizing bully, and Summer--a promiscuous under age girl who just doesn t say no to older boys--and her paralyzed mom can't stop her. Summer experiences the humiliation of jailhouse make-up and the surprising reaction Ice Mike has to her shameful behavior. Summer freaks out when she sees an inmate strapped into a restraint chair, and going wild. Pot-smoking Austin, 15, discovers an inmate who dipped his hands into boiling oil while high on drugs. Jeremy, 17, is tormented by inmates when they learn he assaulted his grandmother. An entire cell block descends on the four teens--and they have nowhere to hide.
4 Hudson County, NJ
10/11/12
Season-only
Near the Jersey Shore, four cocky at-risk teens try to charm their way through a harrowing day in a New Jersey jail. Samir, an 18-year-old thief, is a kid on the make, selling tea as marijuana to unsuspecting teens as well as beating those who cross him. Inside one of New Jersey s toughest jails, Samir is confronted by Sgt. Mahoney, an old school corrections officer who seems to revel in the barrage of intimidation he dishes out. But when Sgt. Mahoney exposes his own child s fateful brush with the law, Samir starts to see how vulnerable he really is. Teshon s spiritual grandmother prays that he will leave the gang life behind while Fredrick s grandmother welcomes him to the jail--where she works as an officer. Their day in jail takes a frightening turn when a gunshot rings out, sending everyone to the ground.
5 Oklahoma City, OK
10/18/12
Season-only
Four at-risk teens from the hard streets of Oklahoma City are confronted by gang members and their own emotions while touring the county jail. A hardened female inmate who is an avowed member of the Aryan Brotherhood zeroes in on each teen, regardless of race, describing a vivid and terrifying portrait of what she's capable of doing to all of them. Juvenile Raven, a 13-year old street-smart gang member, believes in death before dishonoring her crew. But she finds out from juvenile gang offenders that female gang bangers suffer a brutal fate, whether in jail or on the street. Female inmates set their sights on Raven, who isn't afraid to fight back. Teen gangbanger Taylon comes face to face with an inmate whose tattoos illustrate his lethal hatred of rival gangs. Teens are forced to wear weighted vests and pot-smoker Tori realizes she can't handle the burden. In a final, emotionally haunting scene, the teens must confront their parents in a visitation room.
6 San Bernardino County, CA
10/25/12
Season-only
In San Bernardino County, outside LA, parents are losing control of their teens. Troublemaker Alexis tires of his parents' rules and calls immigration authorities on them. Larry, an aggressive brawler, argues with deputies until one officer offers a life-changing deal that may reunite him with a long-lost family member. After a visit to the morgue, Jamayne, 14, breaks down sobbing, begging to be released from the tour. Child-like Andrew, who loves weapons, discovers that prison food is not so easy to stomach.
7 Lake County, FL
11/1/12
Season-only
In the swamplands of Lake County, Florida, troubled teens find little to do but act out and break the law. Heather, 17, is a beautiful manipulator, who uses her looks to get what she wants. Mariah, 13, an angry thug who gets into physical fights with school officials and family members, is shocked to discover a member of her own family behind bars. When they both encounter a terrifying inmate with a nasty grudge nick-named "Big Hurt," they discover that in jail it doesn't matter who you think you are on the outside. Heather s greatest shock, however, comes three weeks after the jail visit. And Nick, 12, who breaks down locked doors at home to steal from his mother, breaks down into tears when an enormous, gold-toothed inmate unlocks the secret behind his criminal behavior.
8 Fulton County, GA
11/8/12
Season-only
In a Georgia jail, four at-risk teens are given a wide-eyed view of the justice system, from having to clean toilets in a cellblock to being interrogated by a judge. For Quantavis, a gangbanging drug dealer, even a humiliating drenching by a water bottle-toting inmate doesn t seem to snap him out of his plunge toward catastrophe. But weeks after the tour he must make a life or death decision as cameras capture his choice. Child model Imani thinks she s seen it all but her party lifestyle threatens to cut short a life of stardom. Twin bullies Tyra and Tyreq have always had each other s back, but within minutes behind bars they are pitted against each other by inmates and deputies.
9 Hampton Roads, VA
11/15/12
Season-only
During a "scared straight" tour in Virginia, a money-hungry teen drug dealer named R.J. refuses to be scared and lunges at a taunting inmate until officers subdue him. Jada, 13, a cheerleader who likes to steal, meets a fellow cheerleader who is now behind bars. Jourdan, 12, greets the day with a laugh but soon is overwhelmed and in tears screaming for the inmates to get out of her face. Cavion, only 13, barely 5 feet tall, challenges an aggravated inmate. A volatile inmate nicknamed Nasty Nard aggressively confronts them all, forcing officers to intervene.
10 Richland County, SC
12/20/12
Season-only
A frustrated Texas mother ships her three defiant daughters 1000 miles, so that they must endure the nation s only overnight jail program in Richland County, South Carolina. (60 min.)
11 Oneida County, NY
12/27/12
Season-only
In the Oneida County jail in New York, one of a trio of teen hoodlums is made a brutal example in a restraint chair and officers cuff an explosive bully before he even enters the jail.
12 Oklahoma County, OK
1/3/13
Season-only
A spoiled drama queen thinks the tour of the Oklahoma County Detention Center is just a TV show populated with actors, but she is shocked by the reality of hardened criminals directing her every move.
13 35
1/10/13
Season-only
An angry teen s cancer-stricken father hopes a trip to Georgia s Floyd County Jail will change his son s destructive ways before it s too late.
14 Portsmouth County, VA
1/17/13
Season-only
An at-risk teen, with dreams of a rap career, gets a wake-up call win he sees where his love of drugs and gang activity will lead, during a visit to the Portsmouth County Jail in Virginia.
15 WesternTidewater, VA
1/24/13
Season-only
A bad attitude may be one promiscuous teen girl s biggest weapon, but when she has to share a cell with her inmate cousin in Western Tidewater Regional Jail she finds out family ties do not bind behind bars.
16 Suffolk County, MA (Boys)
1/31/13
Season-only
Fresh from the hood, Boston teens face rival gang members whose local loyalties persist behind bars, when they tour the Suffolk County Jail in Massachusetts.
17 Follow-Up Special
2/7/13
Season-only
In a special episode, Beyond Scared Straight revisits teens from the first few seasons to discover if the jail tours have had a lasting impact on their behavior. Among those visited are Sahn, an adorable 13-year old from Baltimore whose shoplifting supported his "passion for fashion" and Brandon, from Oakland County, MI, whose violent outbursts in jail caused him to be thrown off the tour. Also seen is Larry, from Season 3, who awaits the outcome of a promise made by a San Bernardino, CA deputy: that he would finally be reunited with his long-lost father. And sadly, the update of one teen whose tragic accident could never have been imagined. Alternatively shocking, uplifting and heart-wrenching, this follow-up also premieres never-before-seen footage and clips featuring memorable inmates Diabla, Green Eyes and Ice Mike.

About this show

Beyond Scared Straight - produced by Arnold Shapiro, profiles the new approach to keeping today teens from becoming tomorrow prisoners.

Ratings and reviews

4.7
611 reviews
funsize_fefe 91
June 13, 2019
I feel that Beyond Scared Straight was an eye opener for at risk children playing adult games. At the same time, I feel that those children would not be out of line in their double digit age if they were spanked by their parent or legal guardian many years ago.
Ms. Nicole
June 17, 2015
Is an "Awesome Tv Show" it's so in depth, helpful, and a "True Work In Progress" for all troubled teens! I hate the last season is in September. However I hope they never stop doing these shows...if anything every city & state needs this type of program...I think it would benefit more of the children today...seriously!!
39 people found this review helpful
Jeffrey Williams
September 16, 2020
I been watching this show when I couldn't go to work during the covid-19 a few months ago I'm so glad I wasn't a bad kid/teenage never went with a rough crowd like these bad kids/teenagers did in 2011-2015 when this show ended I just hope wherever these kids/teenagers are in 2020 they better stay out of trouble wherever they are