Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

It's a good show. The teens acting up tick me off. I couldn't see myself ever disrespecting my mom and grandmother. I would probably be six feet under. I don't have much respect for this site though, because they allowed a p.o.s. like Ernest, say such discriminatory and racist crap. He claims that parents "not whupping their children with belts" and "allowing them to marry blacks" are why kids of this generation are so disobedient. I can't believe they allowed a review like that to exist. I understand that everyone has an opinion, and they have the right to do so, but racism? Really? There are kids who don't date outside their race, and they still end up screwed up. It isn't the race they date... it is WHO they date. Ernest, I hope you see this review, and I am sure you're some old fart who is whiny that "us blacks" aren't slaves anymore. Worthless failed abortion. ANYWAY... This show is about a program that shows young teens the realities of prison. Some people are quite soft, and say that it's too harsh for the kids 16 and under. Only someone of a faint heart would say something like that. I don't agree with the homophobic and derogatory crap they say... but other than those times, those little brats need to be taught a lesson. Anyone "enjoying" the show isn't "vile". You just are too weak minded to watch a show like that. However.... I do kinda blame the parents for how their kids turned out. But "blah blah blah", spanking kids is child abuse. Go figure. Some of the crap they say on the show, I do highly disagree with. I remember one episode where these prisoners were telling this prisoner's mom, that it wasn't her mom's fault that she ended up in prison and such... telling her not to blame her for what's happened. Uh... yes the it is her fault. The show is pretty harsh, but if those parents aren't gonna discipline their kids like they should... someone needs to.

I found this show horrible! If you enjoy watching fully grown adults picking and scaring little children, you are vile! If they're parents can't look after there children, that's there own damn fault!! You shouldn't of had them! Teach your kids respect and manners and Don't let them walk all over you. They will turn into little buggers like the ones on this show. They may be horrible but stooping as low as to force a young boy (13) to do push ups, having him up against the wall by his throat while he is begging for you to stop and repeatedly saying he's sorry, it's f***in disgusting!!!! Some children need this, don't get me wrong but in my personal opinion, this show should only allow 16+ people to be entered! 11 year old crying is not something I will easily sit and watch!!!

Beyond Scared Straight is an outstanding show in which troubled teens are sent to jails around the country to see what its going to be like should they find themselves on the inside. Scare tactics are often used, but the effectiveness, while positive on most, falls far short for others. Frankly, I would love to see this program extended in such a manner that these kids REALLY get a taste of jail life. I think by picking these kids up in front of their friends by the local Sheriff's Departments upon exit from school on a Friday afternoon and dropping them back off to school on the following Monday morning just before the start of classes would be far more effective then giving them a half day experience going from one section of the jail to another. Today's kids are some of the most disrespectful ever, and with parents working longer and longer hours while trying to make a living like never before, many of these at risk kids are failing to receive the attention they need during the riskiest time of their lives. Today's kids roll their eyes, look the other way, bad mouth their parents and teachers like never before. They truly need a rude awakening. I think this can only be done in the most severe cases by letting them spend a full weekend in jail, where they should be treated as close to an inmate as possible while protecting them from injury.

This has to be the worst show I've ever seen. The main premise is innocuous: to try to keep kids from stealing and being in gangs by giving them a reality check. The way they ended up doing this was beyond offensive (which should be the real title of the show.) Instead of making the kids have heart to heart talks with prisoners about why they should change their behavior, they took them to the "alternative sexuality" ward and used gay and trans inmates as a boogeymen to scare kids out of going to prison. The guards often threatened the kids by telling them they would be raped (which is NEVER okay), and made derogatory comments about transgender inmates ("do you want to be in here with a man who wants to be a women?") I can't imagine how harmful this was to the teens in their program who happen to be gay, bi, and trans themselves (a percentage of them certainly are.) I was supposed to watch this show wanting the kids to turn their lives around and change their acts. Instead, I wanted to join the kids in punching out the oppressive prison guards and start a riot. If anyone needs to be taught a lesson, it is not the teens, it is the guards.