Ep 8. Fulton County, GA

In the eighth episode of the third season of Beyond Scared Straight, we are taken to the Fulton County Jail in Georgia where a group of at-risk teens are given a taste of prison life. These teens have been identified by their families and local authorities as being on the path to juvenile delinquency, and their parents are hoping that the experience inside the jail will scare them straight.

The episode begins with introductions and a brief overview of the program. We meet the inmates who will be doing the yelling, cursing, and intimidating in hopes of scaring the teens into changing their ways. The teens are brought into the jail and informed of the rules: no talking, no touching anything, and they must follow the orders of the officers and inmates at all times. The teens are visibly nervous as they are led into a cell where they will spend the first night of their incarceration.

The next morning, the teens are taken to meet with a group of inmates who have been incarcerated since they were teenagers themselves. These inmates share their stories of youth and how they ended up in prison. They detail the harsh realities of prison life and explain to the teens that this is not something they want to experience. There are also several inmates who share their experiences of being raped while in prison, and the teens are visibly disturbed by these stories.

The teens are then taken on a tour of the jail, where they witness the overcrowded and dehumanizing conditions that the prisoners live in. They visit various parts of the facility, including the cells, the medical unit, and the outdoor yard. They witness firsthand how violent and unpredictable the inmates can be.

Throughout the day, the teens are constantly reminded of the consequences of their actions. They are shown pictures of what happens to victims of violent crimes, and they are forced to confront the reality that their actions could have lifelong consequences. They also meet with victims of crime who share their stories of pain and suffering.

As the day comes to a close, the teens are taken to a final meeting with their parents. The inmates who have been working with them throughout the day also attend this meeting. The teens are visibly emotional as they speak with their parents, realizing the pain and worry that they have caused them. The inmates also talk to the parents, warning them of the dangers of not taking action and demanding that their children change their ways.

The episode ends with the teens leaving the jail, many of them in tears. They have been shaken by their experience and vow to make changes in their lives. The parents are also emotional as they realize how close they were to losing their children to a life of crime. It is a powerful and emotional episode that illustrates the harsh realities of prison life and the profound impact it can have on young people.