Ep 7. St. Clair County, IL
- TVPG
- December 15, 2011
- 42 min
Beyond Scared Straight is an eye-opening TV series that focuses on the harsh realities of prison life and how it can affect impressionable young minds. In season 2 episode 7, entitled St. Clair County, IL, viewers are taken to an Illinois county jail to see how the program operates in this particular location.
The episode begins by introducing us to several at-risk teens who have gotten themselves involved in various forms of criminal behavior. These young people have been picked up for crimes ranging from drug use to theft and vandalism, and their parents have all agreed to have them participate in the Beyond Scared Straight program in the hopes that it will teach them some valuable life lessons.
Once inside the jail, the teens are immediately confronted by a group of tough and intimidating inmates who waste no time in putting them through their paces. The teens are made to wear orange jumpsuits and spend an entire day living behind bars, experiencing firsthand the brutal realities of prison life.
Throughout the course of the episode, we get to see the different methods used by the program to shock these young people into making better life choices. We see how the inmates use fear, intimidation, and physical force to break down the teens and get them to realize that their behavior has real consequences.
We also get to see some of the massive psychological toll that prison life can have on people, including the inmates themselves. The teens are exposed to stories of suicide, murder, and other forms of violence that occur behind bars. They also get a glimpse into the never-ending cycle of crime and punishment that keeps many prisoners locked up for years at a time.
Despite the harshness of their experience, some of the teens begin to show signs of regret and remorse for their past actions. They start to realize that there are other ways to live their lives, and that there is no need to resort to criminal behavior to get what they want. They also begin to appreciate the importance of education and using their time productively.
In the end, everyone involved in the program is hopeful that the teens will take the lessons they have learned to heart and make positive changes in their lives. The program may only be a short-term intervention, but it has the potential to have a long-lasting impact on the young people who participate.
Overall, the St. Clair County, IL episode of Beyond Scared Straight is a must-watch for anyone interested in seeing how tough-love approaches can be used to help troubled youth turn their lives around. It's a stark reminder of the harsh realities of prison life, and the importance of making good decisions before it's too late.