scared straight
Terrified into compliance
Scared straight describes a method of deterring at-risk youth from crime by exposing them to the harsh realities of prison life—typically through confrontational encounters with inmates.
The approach became famous through a 1978 documentary.
More broadly, it describes any shock-based intervention meant to frighten someone onto a better path: The accident scared him straight.
After seeing what drugs did to his brother, he went scared straight.
- afraidExperiencing dread or worry
- fearfulFull of fright
- boot campsRigorous short-term training programs
- juvenile justiceLegal system for minors
- youth offendersMinors who commit crimes
criminality · crime prevention · aversion therapy · shock therapy · panic · intimidated · wake up call · reality check · tough love · terrified · intervention · deterrence · offender · program · reform · at-risk youth · warned · correctional facilities
- juvenile courtjuvenile court, juvenile justice, juvenile detention, juvenile hall, detention hearings
scared straightpositive reinforcement
Strengthening behavior through rewards
restorative justice · rehabilitation · mentorship program · talk therapy · coddling
scared straightled astray
Caused to err
corrupted · radicalized · gone wrong · hardened · recidivism
scared, straight, scare, scares, scaring, scarier, scariest, scary, straighter