I think a scared straight program would help. However, these programs need to involve conversations with harden crimminals who are serving life sentences. Educated crimminals would definitely be a plus especially if they were educated while serving their time within the correctional system.
I think that the crimminals may be able to relate better to the situations that some of the trouble youth of today faces....

Scared straight programs have been out since the 70's (dah) this generation doesn't have any fear of anything also they don,t have any desent role models. We have criminals in this city from the top to the bottom.What we saw on THE WIRE WAS REALITY ALL TRUE about B-MORE.I have lived here all of my life. It was a great city back in the day. I'm 60 years old. Back in the Shaffer days.

I used to teach at a city middle school (which closed last year). I had a 7th grader with an ankle box and a parole officer. He might have been the most extreme case but I had multiple students who'd be in and out of school due to spending time in juvi. In my opinion we need educational alternatives for these kids. We need to give them a feasible alternative to the life of crime. College isn't for everyone. We need to help them find a job that they enjoy (auto shop, mechanic, painter, plumber, etc) that might not require an advanced degree but might seduce them away from crime.

I don't know if we will ever find a program to effectively deter kids from crime. It is so culturally invasive now, that it is a point of pride to be locked up.
It is not just city schools that have this problem. I worked at a Baltimore County high school that was about one mile from the city line, and we had many, many students who had been incarcerated for rape, robbery, etc.
I was on the Baltimore County Grand Jury two years ago, and one of our duties was to tour the County Detention Center. I mentioned a 'scared straight' program to them, and they told me that some county high schools had tried it. They pretty much gave up: the students touring the facility would many times see a friend from their neighborhood or school in the facility, and would great them like heroes.

Scared Straight can work. But prison isn't what kids fear nowadays, particularly ones from a disadvantaged household; prison might even be a step up in some instances.

Fear is a powerful motivator at times, but detention center tours aren't where demons live anymore.

Want to scare some of the kids to act right in your classroom? Threaten to step on their brand new, shiny, sparkly tennis.

Now THAT works :)

Scared straight program demonstrate no benefit to those who participate. In fact, there is research that documents these programs do more harm than good. See this reference: http://ann.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/589/1/41. There are many evidence based programs that have demonstrated effectness. Some are already being used here. See the 3/18 Sun letter to Editor from Angela Conyers Johnese. She details proven programs that work. We should not use interventions that don't! Let's not just add another problem to the situation by using programs that have no demonstrated results! While I believe that people are well intended, any intervention applied to address the youth crime rate should have demonstrated effectiveness, not used just because it seems like a great idea. Not only is it irresponsible, but it is potentially harmful.

Scaring kids straight is entirely the wrong approach. I mentor Baltimore City high-schoolers and they know too well what the inside of a prison looks like. They have parents, relatives, and friends who have been "locked up." Etched in their psyche is a mentality that states, "I'm just going to end up in jail anyway, so why try?"

What these kids do NOT know is what success looks like. They don't know anyone who has overcome the challenges they are faced with. They feel that society has already chosen their lot in life for them, and it is futile to fight against it.

Instead of telling them they are "at high-risk" of becoming a criminal by trying to scare them with a jail visit, tell them you believe in them. Instead of contributing to their demoralization, prove to them that they have a future worth working for.

They don't need scare tactics- what they need is hope. Kids will live up to your expectations of them (for better or for worse).

Where can I find a Scared Straight program in Baltimore

A scared straight program is like a diet. You cant just be on a diet , you must live the diet. I work with at risk youth , 16-19. Ive seen the worse. The reason it works for us is we live the diet. It is difficult and scarey for some of these youth. Do some fail ...yes. But those that do stay and learn how to diet succed. Scared straight can work but the method that is used will determine if it is effective.

I really need some help' im a singel parent and my 13 year old daugther is be comming very rebelous' Please help me with her b4 it's ever lasting to late!!!!!!!!!

Thanks