Ep 17. Dougherty County, GA

The episode titled "Dougherty County, GA" from season 4 of Beyond Scared Straight follows a group of at-risk teens from Albany, Georgia. The episode begins with a brief introduction of the teens and their troubling behaviors. It's clear from the start that these teens exhibit a range of destructive behaviors, including drug use, theft, and gang involvement.

The teens are then taken to the Dougherty County Jail, where they are greeted by a group of hardened criminals. The inmates waste no time in intimidating the teens, using vulgar language and aggressive behavior to get their message across. The teens are forced to endure intense physical training, including sit-ups, push-ups, and other grueling exercises.

Throughout the episode, the teens are subjected to a variety of exercises and activities designed to scare them straight. One notable scene involves a teen named Alex, who is forced to wear a "shame suit" and carry a heavy cinder block around the jail while the inmates taunt and ridicule him.

Other scenes in the episode focus on specific inmates who share their stories of how they landed in jail - often due to the same destructive behaviors exhibited by the teens. The inmates share graphic accounts of their experiences behind bars, including the violence, drug use, and lack of freedom that define life in jail.

Throughout the episode, the teens are visibly emotional and shaken by their experiences in the jail. Many of them cry, express remorse for their past behaviors, and vow to make positive changes in their lives. However, the effectiveness of the program is called into question when the teens return to their regular lives.

In the final scenes of the episode, the viewers see the teens back in their homes, schools, and communities. Some of the teens seem genuinely changed by their experiences in the Dougherty County Jail, avoiding old habits and making sincere efforts to improve themselves. Others, however, fall back into their old patterns, suggesting that the Beyond Scared Straight program may not be a one-size-fits-all solution for troubled teens.

Overall, the "Dougherty County, GA" episode of Beyond Scared Straight offers a powerful look at the struggles and challenges faced by at-risk teens. The show does a good job of humanizing the inmates and highlighting the consequences of destructive behaviors, while also showcasing the complexity of the issues faced by these young people. While the effectiveness of the Beyond Scared Straight program may be debated, there is no denying the impact it has on the teens who participate in it.