Introduction
Scared straight 1999 is part of a project modeled by the prisoners of Rahway State prison in New Jersey. The undertaking involves the visitation of juvenile delinquents to prisons holding mature prisoners serving long sentences. The intention involves showcasing life in the prisons as a deterrent to ensure the juveniles do not commit further crimes. The Sacred Straight 1999 documentary is set in the East Jersey State Prison. At the onset, the commentator points out that the prison has over 1700 prisoners comprising murderers, rapists, and robbers. The production features teenagers going to prison as visitors, 12 of them accompanied by probation officers and counselors. The teenagers end up interacting with the convicts at the prison, calling themselves the lifers who have been imprisoned for violent crimes since they were teenagers. However, they have offered to help to turn the young lawbreakers from a life of crime. They desire to do everything possible to ensure the visiting juvenile offenders never want to engage in crime again by being rude to them and using violent and abusive language.
Different Kinds of Crimes in the Documentary
The first juvenile prisoner featured is Brian, who is 15 years old. He indicates that he got involved in drugs at the early age of 11. He also has been involved in first-degree robbery, theft, and conspiracy in possession of drugs. Rob, 13, was also involved in using drugs, while Louie, 16, professed to have been involved in the transportation and sale of drugs. J.B, 17, was involved in a fight, stealing, breaking cars to get the stereos, and selling drugs. Melvin, 14, got into trouble for stealing, a practice he started at age 11 by stealing a bike before graduating into cars. In general, the juveniles had committed various crimes involving shoplifting, burglary, robbery, armed robbery, breaking into houses, car theft, drug dealing, and assault.
Program Profiles Occurring in Everyday Jail Activities
The prisoners follow the life program profile as developed by the prison. In Scared Straight 1999, the everyday jail activities mentioned entail participation in roll calls, morning workouts, timed meals and cleaning.
Special Cells in the Prison
Prisons usually have special cells mainly used for solitary confinement and temporary holding. In solitary confinement, prisoners are locked under harsh conditions, including being behind steel bars for 22 to 24 hours. The locked-up individuals have limited rights to undergo rehabilitation, including educational programs. There is a restriction to access to treatment options, personal items, sexual oppression, along with other kinds of stigmatization and cruelty. Solitary confinement is further characterized by physical affliction, such as forced cell extraction, hog-tying, restraint chairs, forced insomnia, exposure to high temperatures, continuous luminous lighting, and chemical torture. Temporary holding cells lock up prisoners for a short duration as they are processed. A holding cell is conventionally built using brick and mortar, but in recent times, metal is used and prefabrication. Their design is intended to permit only minimal physical manipulation by the person in the cell.
Living Conditions of Prisoners in the Documentary
The film depicts brutal conditions for the prisoners, mainly characterized by abuse. Individuals locked up in prison must endure humiliation, inhumane circumstances, and harsh interactions. The living conditions are tough, people are overcrowded, and there is violence, sexual abuse, and other conditions that threaten the health and safety of prisoners. The film shows a tiny room where the prisoners spend time, eat and help themselves in a tiny room. Another notable feature is the mistreatment of felons based on race and gender identity, as the long-term prisoners indicate rampant murder and suicide. The juveniles, such as Ben (15), admit that life in prison is scary and would have to defend themselves if attacked.
Importance of Corrections
The Sacred Straight 1999 documentary was developed to deter juveniles from committing crimes as they become adults. They are exposed to real life in prisons to dishearten them from continuing a life of crime. Corrections define the retribution of criminals for the crimes they have perpetrated in society. The retribution serves to punish offenders for deterring them from engaging in crime. Individuals are locked up in prisons to keep the larger society safe since criminals are separated from upright community members. Apart from being locked up in prison cells, correction further involves rehabilitating wrongdoers before they are again released to society. Other forms of correction include residential community placement, probation, parole, and cancellation of parole and probation.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Sacred Straight 1999 film sought to show juveniles being exposed to prisons holding mature prisoners. The documentary shows the young lawbreakers being taken around the prison and talked to using strong words and abusive language. The film is part of the larger scheme meant to scare juveniles from continuing to engage in criminal activities by showing them the actual prison conditions that are not appealing. It shows the different kinds of crime, program profile of the prison, the living conditions all of which underscore the need for corrections in the criminal justice system.