Documentary backdrop image for Scared Straight! (1978)

Documentary backdrop image for Scared Straight! (1978)

197852 minPG-13documentary

7.5/ 10(13 ratings)• TMDB

Education True Crime

Scared Straight!

197852 minPG-13documentary

7.5/ 10(13 ratings)• TMDB

Convicts speak to troubled kids about prison life in a program aimed at deterring youth from crime.

“It took going behind bars to keep them out.”

Education True Crime

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Director

Synopsis

Convicts speak to troubled kids about prison life in a program aimed at deterring youth from crime.

People

Arnold Shapirodirector

Arnold Shapirowriter

Peter Falk

Synopsis

Inside a prison, convicts confront troubled youth about the stark realities of life behind bars. The program, designed to deter juvenile delinquency, features inmates sharing their experiences and the consequences of their actions. Filmed in 1978, "Scared Straight." runs for 52 minutes and captures the intense interactions between the inmates and the young participants. The Academy Film Archive preserved the documentary in 2007, recognizing its impact on discussions surrounding crime and education in the United States.

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