Ep 13. Douglas County, GA

In season 5 episode 13 of Beyond Scared Straight titled "Douglas County, GA," viewers are taken on a journey through the Douglas County jail as teenage boys and girls are shown the harsh realities of life behind bars. The episode begins with several boys and girls who have found themselves in trouble with the law being introduced to the inmates they will soon be spending time with.

The inmates, many of whom are serving lengthy sentences for violent crimes, proceed to give the delinquent teenagers a taste of what their own future could hold. They are subjected to intimidation tactics as the prisoners scream at them, threaten them and pull them out of their cells. The inmates tell the teenagers about the brutal and violent nature of prison life, warning them about gang violence and sexual assault.

Throughout the episode, viewers are shown how quickly the attitudes of the teenagers begin to change. Initially, many of them scoff and roll their eyes at the inmates. Some even attempt to talk back or argue, suggesting that they are not intimidated by their surroundings. However, as the day wears on, it becomes clear that the teenagers are starting to feel the weight of their own actions.

The inmates in Douglas County jail are unrelenting in their attempts to break through to the teenagers. They use aggressive tactics to remind the teens that they will not be able to survive behind bars unless they change their ways. One particularly memorable moment features a group of teenagers being forced to do pushups in unison while an inmate screams at them. The teens are told that if they can't work together, they will never stand a chance in prison.

The episode also features interviews with family members and loved ones of some of the teenagers. Through their stories, it becomes clear that many of these kids have faced difficult upbringings and have turned to criminal activity as a way to cope. Family members talk about the fear they feel, knowing that their loved ones are headed down a dark path. They express hope that the experience in Douglas County jail will scare their children straight and prevent them from repeating their mistakes.

One of the most powerful moments in the episode occurs when a young woman is brought face-to-face with her own mother, who is also an inmate in the jail. The woman is forced to confront the reality of what her actions have done not just to herself, but to the people she loves. The scene is emotional and raw, showing both the pain and the hopelessness that can come with a life of crime.

Overall, Beyond Scared Straight season 5 episode 13 is a harrowing look at what life is really like for those who end up behind bars. It is a reminder that the choices we make as teenagers can have long-lasting consequences, and that the future is not set in stone. While the tactics used by the inmates may be controversial, the hope is that the experience will ultimately help these troubled teenagers turn their lives around before it's too late.