Ep 9. Hampton Roads, VA

Beyond Scared Straight season 3 episode 9 titled "Hampton Roads, VA" takes the viewers inside a Virginia prison where seven potential juvenile offenders undergo a transformational experience through eye-opening encounters with seasoned criminals. The episode initially starts with the participants' introduction and a brief history of the crimes they have committed. Most of them have already been involved in illegal activities, ranging from theft to drug abuse.

The selected group of teens arrives at the Hampton Roads Regional Jail, a maximum-security prison that houses almost 1,600 inmates. Upon arrival, they are immediately confronted by a group of inmates who are deemed the most feared and notorious in the prison compound. These inmates go by names like "Tiny," "Da Beast," and "Turtle," and they have one thing in common: they are all serving long-term sentences.

The first interaction with the inmates is intimidating, to say the least. The inmates yell at the teens, use profanities, and threaten them with physical harm if they don't listen to their advice. The teens are visibly shaken, realizing that the inmates mean business. The inmates go on to demonstrate how they handle confrontations inside the prison, showcasing how they control their emotions and use intimidation to stay safe in the hostile environment.

As the day wears on, the teens participate in various activities that give them a glimpse of the brutal life inside the prison walls. They tour the prison facilities, including the cells, where they see how cramped and uncomfortable the living conditions are. They also go to the "hole," a small, windowless room where inmates who are being punished are locked up.

The most impactful moment of the episode comes when the teens interact with an inmate who is serving a life sentence. The inmate, a former marine, shares his life story, explaining how bad choices led him to his current predicament. He tells the teens how he regrets not heeding the advice of his parents, who warned him about the consequences of hanging out with the wrong crowd. He stresses the importance of taking advantage of the opportunities they have now to make a positive change in their lives.

The final moments of the episode are particularly heart-wrenching as the teens say goodbye to the inmates they have interacted with throughout the day. It is evident that the conversations they have had and the experiences they have undergone have left an indelible mark on their lives. The teens are emotional as they reflect on their day inside the prison, realizing how close they were to ending up in the same situation as the inmates they spoke to.

Overall, Beyond Scared Straight season 3 episode 9 titled "Hampton Roads, VA" is a powerful and impactful episode that offers a sobering look into the realities of life behind bars. Viewers can expect to see raw and emotional interactions between the teens and inmates, as well as witness the transformational effect of such encounters. The episode highlights the importance of making good choices and the consequences of bad ones in a way that is engaging and thought-provoking for both teens and adults alike.