The Politics of Juvenile Awareness Programs

Abstract

Michigan's Department of Corrections recently completed an evaluation of Project JOLT, a “Scared Straight” type of program. The evaluation was unable to uncover any benefits to juveniles from the program, and therefore the department recommended its cancellation. This, in turn, resulted in a public hearing at which this recommendation was challenged by raising a number of considerations that went beyond the evaluation study. This article clarifies the debate between the two sides and raises some theoretical, methodological, and political issues surrounding the Scared Straight approach.