Ep 4. Queen Anne's County, MD: Outside and Inside

Beyond Scared Straight! is a reality TV series that portrays a unique approach to lowering the crime rate in the United States by pairing at-risk youths with prison inmates for a day to give them a harsh dose of reality about the life behind bars. In season 5, episode 4 titled Queen Anne's County, MD: Outside and Inside, viewers are taken to a correctional facility in Maryland, where a group of troubled teens is sent to experience the daily life of convicted criminals.

The episode begins with the introduction of the teens and their backgrounds. Most of them are struggling with drug addiction, anger management, and abusive behavior. One of the participants, Zach, stands out because of his blatant disregard for the law; he has been arrested multiple times, and he thinks he is invincible. The Queen Anne's County facility houses several hardened criminals, and the teens are in for a rude awakening.

The first interaction between the teens and the inmates takes place outside, where the latter give them a small taste of prison life. The first thing that strikes the teens is the overwhelming sense of fear that grips them as they are confronted by heavily tattooed and menacing-looking convicts. The inmates are quick to assert their authority, ordering the teens to get down on the ground, do push-ups, and generally behaving like drill sergeants. The teens realize that they are not in control anymore, and their bravado evaporates.

The next phase of the program takes place inside the correctional facility, and the teens are given a tour of the different parts of the prison. They are shown the bleak cells, the dining hall, and the medical facility, where they get a glimpse of the horrors of prison life. The inmates are allowed to interact with the teens freely, and they take every opportunity to scare them with stories of gang violence, rape, and murder, all while emphasizing the importance of staying out of prison.

The teens also get to witness a fight between two inmates, which is a brutal affair, and leaves them shaken. They realize that even the smallest altercation inside can lead to disastrous consequences. Zach, who had earlier boasted about his criminal activities, looks particularly disturbed by the altercation.

Towards the end of the episode, the teens are given a chance to talk to their families, who are brought into the prison. Many of them breakdown, realizing the pain they have caused their loved ones, who up until now, have been supporting them in every way possible. The program ends with a tough-love session in which the inmates, who have now taken pity on the teens, try to make them understand the gravity of their situations and the need to change their ways.

Overall, Beyond Scared Straight! season 5 episode 4 is a hard-hitting episode that showcases the brutal reality of prison life. The show serves as a warning to at-risk youths and provides them with a rare glimpse of what lies in store if they continue to commit crimes. The program is informative, emotional, and thought-provoking, and serves as a reminder of how easy it is to fall into a life of crime and how hard it is to get out.