January 14, 2011 | 2:20 PM | By

Does anything scare teenagers?

FILED UNDER: Corrections, Arts&Culture

A couple weeks ago, Richard Gilliam, an inmate serving time in a California state prison, wrote about the program “Crossroads” at San Quentin State Prison. A&E last night debuted a series about the same program (which you can watch on their site) called “Beyond Scared Straight.” The program takes a group of teenage girls who’ve shoplifted, done drugs, “lost their purity,” etc. to Valley State Prison in Chowchilla. Girls, it’s posited, do not take their self-destructive behavior or the threat of imprisonment very seriously–they assume that because they’re female, they won’t get in as much trouble. Here’s a little preview of what they’re treated to at Chowchilla:

Hmm. They look slightly frightened, anyway. The series replays this Saturday at 8pm.

  • WOMAN OF FAITH

    I WATCHED THIS PROGRAM WITH MY 2 TEENAGE DAUGHTERS AND WE COULDN’T BELIEVE
    WHAT WE WERE SEEING.THEY REALLY GOT THE MESSAGE OF HOW GOOD THEY HAVE IT
    AT HOME!!! AND THEY REALLY FELT THE FEAR IN THE GIRL EYES WHEN THEY SAW THEM
    INSIDE A REAL PRISON,MY GIRLS WERE REALLY CRYING. BUT NOW I’M HAVING TROUBLE
    WITH ONE OF THEM. AND I WANTED TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON A PROGRAM THAT IS JUST AS STRONG AS THE ONE YOU AIRED ONLY IN HOUSTON TEXAS?
    I WOULD DO ANYTHING TO SAVE MY CHILD AND YOUR HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. GOD BLESS YOU AND ALL THE LIVES THAT YOU ARE SAVING THROUGH
    THIS PROGRAM.