In fact, these types of programs may be harmful and increase delinquency relative to no intervention at all with the same youths.Īccording to Dr. A meta-analysis conducted by Aos and colleagues (2001) showed that “Scared Straight” and similar programs produced substantial increases in recidivism (chronic relapse into crime).Įvidence indicates that “Scared Straight” and similar programs are simply not effective in deterring criminal activity. The program effect, whether assuming a fixed or random effects model, was nearly identical and negative in direction, regardless of the meta-analytic strategy.” In other words, Scared Straight not only doesn’t work, it may actually be more harmful than doing nothing.Īnother meta-analysis showed “Scared Straight” interventions could possibly worsen conduct-disorder symptoms (Lilinefeld, 2005). The researchers’ results indicated “the intervention to be more harmful than doing nothing. ![]() Nine trials met the criteria for the study. Each study investigated had to include a no-treatment control condition with at least one outcome measure of “post visit” criminal behavior.Only studies that randomly or quasi-randomly assigned participants to conditions were included.Overlapping sample of juvenile and young adults (ages: 14-20) were included.Studies that assessed effects of any program involving organized visits of juvenile or children at- risk for criminality to penal institutions.The selection criteria for the research they reviewed were:
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