Ep 2. Jessup

In Beyond Scared Straight season 1 episode 2, titled Jessup, viewers follow a group of troubled teens as they are taken into the Jessup Correctional Institution. Jessup is a maximum-security prison in Maryland that houses some of the state's most violent offenders, so it's certainly not a place for anyone to mess around.

The episode begins by introducing several teenage boys who are all struggling with various issues. There's Austin, a 15-year-old who is always on the edge of getting kicked out of school due to his behavior. Then there's Montez, who has been stealing cars and has already been arrested twice before. Finally, there's Michael, who has been getting involved in gangs and drugs.

The boys are brought to Jessup and are met by a group of inmates who are there to show them what it's really like on the inside. These inmates tell the boys about their own past mistakes and how they ended up behind bars. Some of them are serving life sentences for murder, and they all have very harsh stories to tell.

The inmates then lead the boys through various parts of the prison, including the yard and the cells. At each stop, the inmates give the boys a taste of the life they would have if they continue down their current path. They tell them about the violence, the gangs, and the drugs that are found in prison and how dangerous it can be.

One of the most impactful moments in the episode comes when the boys are led into a cell where an inmate is being held in solitary confinement. The inmate is isolated from all other prisoners, and the cell is completely empty except for a small hole in the wall for him to use as a toilet. The boys are shocked by the conditions and the fact that someone is forced to live like this.

Throughout the episode, the boys are also subjected to verbal abuse from the inmates, who are trying to scare them straight. One inmate in particular, who is known for being very aggressive, gets into Austin's face and begins to yell at him. Austin starts to cry and looks like he's about to break down, but the inmate eventually backs off.

Towards the end of the episode, the boys are allowed to sit down and talk with some of the inmates. This gives them the chance to ask questions and learn more about what life is like behind bars. The inmates are surprisingly open and honest with them, and some of them even share some words of wisdom that the boys take to heart.

Overall, Beyond Scared Straight season 1 episode 2 is a sobering look at the reality of prison life. The Jessup Correctional Institution is a very intense place, and the inmates do a good job of showing the boys what they could be facing if they don't turn their lives around. While the show may be controversial and some have questioned its effectiveness on rehabilitating troubled youth, it certainly offers a unique and eye-opening perspective on the justice system.