NCJ Number
95780
Date Published
1984
Length
14 pages
Annotation
The documentary film, 'Scared Straight,' and the media coverage of it used distorted images of crime and criminals to convey an ideological message and a simplistic solution compatible with their presentation of the crime problem.
Abstract
The film depicts a program in which juveniles visit inmates in a New Jersey penitentiary. The stated objective of the program was to deter juveniles from crime by having inmates dramatically explain the consequences of a life of crime. Over 15,000 juveniles have attended the rap sessions inside Rahway Prison. The program generated much media and public interest, even though it began experiencing problems in 1977. An evaluation team concluded that the project was effective and should continue under State funding, but several changes in the program format were recommended. Serious controversy over the program emerged in the spring of 1979 when the National Center on Institutions and Alternatives challenged the recidivism figures cited in the documentary. A subsequent evaluation by Professor James Finckenauer of Rutgers University further weakened the success story. Nevertheless, many States are developing similar programs. 'Scared Straight' is a media-generated phenomenon which manipulated or reinforced stereotyped perceptions of crime and criminals and offered a solution which may entail few operational changes but which reflects recent ideological shifts regarding criminal sanctions. Thirty-seven references are listed.