Beyond Scared Straight |

Follow Up

Jessup, MD - Women's Prison

Five at-risk girls were subjected to a terrifying simulation of the degrading process of entering a female prison. The prison tour reached its greatest emotional impact when teens opened up to the inmates, causing one girl to reveal a tragic secret.

Alyssa

AT THE CONCLUSION OF PRODUCTIONAlyssa was hired as a peer counselor at a local youth group and continues to inspire others to stay on the right path.

LATEST UPDATE: DECEMBER 2011Alyssa recently moved to Georgia with her family and is trying to adjust to her new home and school. Her situation is stressful. Alyssa had to leave behind her responsibilities as a peer counselor, as well as many close friends and family. She is also currently behind in school credits. Her new high school is advising her to enroll in a “home school” program so that she may catch up, and hopefully attend high school as a junior the following year. Despite these setbacks, Alyssa maintains a positive attitude and is willing to put in the handwork to move ahead.

Although she continues to smoke marijuana, Alyssa claims that since the prison visit she smokes a lot less, no longer shoplifts, and is a positive influence towards her sisters and friends.

Alyssa does not plan to live in Georgia all her life. She is looking forward to finishing high school and returning to Maryland, where she will enroll herself in college.

Brandi

AT THE CONCLUSION OF PRODUCTIONBrandi now avoids fighting and drugs, motivated by the inmates’ advice to be a good role model for her brother.

LATEST UPDATE: DECEMBER 2011Still facing some tremendous challenges, Brandi continues to avoid fighting and is motivated by the love for her brother to be a good role model.

According to her mother, in September Brandi had a drug overdose and was rushed to the hospital. She had a variety of prescription and over-the-counter drugs in her system, including Adderall, Coricidin Cough and Cold (Triple C), and marijuana. After being released from the hospital, Brandi was placed in a mandatory 28-day drug rehab program. During this time, Brandi received a lot of love and support from her family and best friends – Megan, Alyssa, and Jessica. She completed the drug rehab program in November, and is now back at school and drug-free.

The experiences of working with counselors to better her own life have inspired Brandi to pursue a career helping others. She has aspirations of one day attending the University of Maryland and studying to become a counselor for adolescents suffering with drug and alcohol addictions.

Jessica

AT THE CONCLUSION OF PRODUCTIONMore focused on school and her future, Jessica is now taking classes in cosmetology and nursing.

LATEST UPDATE: DECEMBER 2011Having watched both of her parents suffer drug addiction and incarceration, Jessica continues to use these events and her own past mistakes to motivate herself.

Focused in school and on her future, Jessica recently enrolled in a community college program called “Jump Start” and is taking courses to earn her license in cosmetology. Jessica is also preparing a backup career in child development and hopes to soon work at a children’s daycare center.

Despite her busy schedule, Jessica still finds time to be with friends. She surrounds herself with more positive people, and she never shops with anyone who may be tempted to steal.

Jessica aspires to make her mother proud by continuing to walk a straight path, earn her high school and college degree, and be a good role model for others around her, including her own family.

Megan

AT THE CONCLUSION OF PRODUCTIONStill hanging out at the mall whenever possible, Megan now shops instead of shoplifts.

LATEST UPDATE: DECEMBER 2011Megan, along with her sister Alyssa, recently moved to Georgia with their family and is trying to adjust to her new home and school. Megan has not shoplifted since the prison visit and no longer looks forward to hanging out at malls. Instead, Megan is getting a fresh start and is focused on making friends at her new school. She is enrolled in the 8th grade and on track to transferring to a high school the following year.

Megan spends a lot of her free time with Alyssa. They share many of the same friends and often go out together, but Megan does not smoke marijuana and continues to be drug-free.

Megan maintains a good relationship with her parents and tries to be positive and supportive of their decision to move. Megan does not plan to live in Georgia all her life. She is looking forward to finishing high school, returning to Maryland, and enrolling herself in college.