Scared straight!
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| Original title | Scared straight! |
| Country of production | United States |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1978 |
| length | 52 minutes |
| Rod | |
| Director | Arnold Shapiro |
| script | Arnold Shapiro |
| production | Arnold Shapiro, Robert Levi |
| camera | William Moffitt |
| cut | Bob Niemack |
Scared straight! is an American documentary from 1978 .
action
The film introduces the Scared Straight program , which aims to protect juveniles who have committed criminal offenses in the USA from further criminal acts. In sessions lasting several hours, the young people, who are being held responsible for their crimes for the first time, are brought into contact with prison inmates who are supposed to show them life behind bars.
In the documentary, the teenagers talk to Mikie C, a forger and drug dealer, gang member Jerom Watts, arsonist and bomber Jon Shapiro, son of a mafia informant, and 17-year-old car thief Jesus Rodriguez. After the session, all young people swear that they never want to go to prison and end their criminal “careers”.
Awards
The film won an Oscar for best documentary in 1979 . The film also won two Emmys : Arnold Shapiro as producer ( Outstanding Informational Program ) and Bob Niemack as film editor ( Outstanding Individual Achievement - Informational Program ). Arnold Shapiro also received a scriptwriting nomination.
background
The film, hosted by Peter Falk , was shot in the East Jersey State Prison, a state prison in New Jersey .
When it was shown uncensored on American television in 1978, it was the first film in which terms like "shit" and "fuck" were deliberately not cut.
In 1980 a film adaptation was made with the title Scared Straight! Another Story directed by Richard Michaels . With the TV productions Scared Straight! 10 Years Later (1987) and Scared Straight! 20 Years Later (1997) the life paths of the young people are followed up. The films sparked controversial discussions because they favor the scared straight approach, which has now not only proven to be ineffective, but even counterproductive.