A little over three months ago, camera crews filled the Floyd County jail as a group of at-risk teens who have been in trouble for things ranging from drugs to theft to violence, came face to face with the reality of their choices.
The program is an on-going one at the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office but this time a camera crew from the Emmy nominated A&E nominated show “Beyond Scared Straight” were following the deputies and participating inmates as they gave the teens a big dose of reality and showed them the consequences of their life choices.
This is the first of two episodes that will air on A&E featuring the “Turning Point” program at the Sheriff’s Office. Deputies volunteer their time and participating inmates get nothing more than the satisfaction of possibly helping put an at-risk teen on the right path and helping them avoid the mistakes that they themselves have made.
This first episode of A&E’s "Beyond
Scared Straight," featuring the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office will air tonight at 10 p.m.









I give credit to those officers who handled the show with dignity, and still made an impression on the kids that would make a real difference. 'I will take your soul' was the worst thing he could have said. This was not scared staight, it was just embarrasing and stupid.
The fact that you and those like you believe someone who works at a jail is equivalent to someone who sits at home and draws an ObamaCheck is the reason I ran away from the TEA Party.
they will continue to be a training ground for the best who eventually move on.
*began his 'bad ways' by stabbing another student with a pencil at age 11
*had already done 2 sentences in Juvenile, one of them 2 years.
*beat up his own mother so bad, she had to be hospitalized
*sat and pointed out (for the camera) 5 or 6 broken bones in his hands from where he'd been in fights
I FULLY AGREE that this kind of show and this treatment to kids shouldn't happen, but in today's society, the only way to get through to some kids is to SHOW them that they're NOT all they think they are and WON'T be the "biggest, baddest MF'er on the yard" (yes, I've heard this exact line from teenagers) and that they don't want to end up in jail...or worse.
I'd say TheSeer & company either (1) have no kids or (2) believe 'my kid is perfect and would NEVER do THAT' or (3) are themselves or have kids who are jailbirds.
Obviously, at some point, the nice language and PC punishment would've been used on these kids but didn't work. The kids on the show were put into this program by their parents, who know in detail the kid's history. It shouldn't have to be this way but these parents are probably at their wits end. I'm sure they've seen the show before so they knew what was going to happen. Other people - who only see 1 edited hour of an overnight experience and none of the years of whatever the kid has been doing – have no right to judge the cops, the show or the parents. Plus, the entire thing is filmed and the kids AREN'T hurt, except maybe their feelings and their bravado. Finally, a lot of this over-the-top and in-your-face attitude probably is staged, probably some for the cameras but more importantly, to scare the kids. If ONE NIGHT keeps ONE KID ALIVE and out of 'REAL' JAIL, then more power to them!
So basically, your assumptions are incorrect. As Gyges says below, it was EMBARRASSING. Made me squirm, that's how ridiculous it was. That's point-it was staged and it was way, way too much.
Also, that is not police brutality they never once hit or touched those boys past the point of average force used to get a prisoner to move. Trust me if you are 13 and doing drugs, 16 and fighting, and 15 and stealing you have been grabbed aggressively a time or two. You might have even grabbed a few people yourself! They were treated like I was treated in basic training for the Army for an entire 3 months and I'm fine. They will be fine.
If they didn't learn in that one day they will end up there anyway for an extended stay. So consider it a wake up call or a tour of their future home. Whatever you consider it remember that if they were good innocent teenagers they would have been at home that day instead of on A&E.
If your child is in middle school or older, and you think he doesn't hear worse on a daily basis, you're living in a fantasy world.
Criticizing these deputies who spend their time and energy (lots of energy) for very little pay in an attempt to save kids who have been given up on by the school system and, sometimes, their parents, is ridiculous. Months later 3 of those kids are doing much better and the turnaround can be traced directly to the work done by these deputies, and honestly the inmates involved. So take your PC "there must be a better way" ideas and submit them in writing to the sheriff. Perhaps he'll just end the program so your sensibilities are not upset.
I know of the deputies featured. He is an excellent family man, deputy and person. I could tell you stories about off-duty time he has donated to a local family who needed help, but it might identify the deputy and he would not be happy with me. Let's just say he's selfless and we are lucky to have him in local law enforcement with the ridiculous pay and a citizenry looking for every opportunity to bash them.
Those 16 year olds are only 1 year away from getting much worse treatment from people who don't wear badges and haven't sworn oaths. That treatment will also not be under the watchful eye of A&E.