Beyond Scared Straight |

Follow Up

Jessup, MD

Five teens learned the harsh realities of prison life at the Maryland Correctional Institution at Jessup, where dozens of menacing inmates, including convicted murderers, surrounded the kids and taunt them.

Sahn

AT THE CONCLUSION OF PRODUCTIONNow 14, he failed to appear in court on the charge of running away from a juvenile shelter house. As a result, Sahn is being held in a youth detention facility.

LATEST UPDATE: FEBRUARY 2013Sahn says that, after leaving the IMPACT program, he didn't feel like changing. "I felt like doing what I wanted to do."

After the program, Sahn ran away from home and got in trouble for stealing a car. To prevent him from getting into more trouble at home, his mother sent Sahn to live in a group home in Utah. He was there for two years, and the experience helped to reinforce many of the lessons he learned during his jail tour.

Three years after the tour, Sahn is now back home and doing well. His relationship with his mother and sisters has improved, and he says his stealing days are now behind him.

Sahn says he still has a "passion for fashion" and hopes to become a shoe designer.

Orben

AT THE CONCLUSION OF PRODUCTIONOrben has continued his culinary training by catering a meeting for White House staff in Washington, DC.

LATEST UPDATE: DECEMBER 2011Since the prison visit two years ago, Orben left the Job Corps program with his G.E.D. in hand and a certificate in culinary arts, but he did not stop there. Orben continued his education at his local community college where he earned an advanced certificate in hotel & restaurant management, nutrition, and human resources management.

Orben is not afraid to admit his past; he dealt with drugs, had an alcohol problem, and was a high school drop out. But with the help of Job Corps and the juvenile diversion program at Jessup, he believes that he has become a different person.

With the combined achievements of both his certificates and the time he spent in the kitchen, Orben earned the title, “Manage First Professional,” and is working fulltime as a cook at a 50's retro diner. Each day Orben feels he is taking one step closer towards his goal in becoming a renowned chef in the food service industry.

Brandon

AT THE CONCLUSION OF PRODUCTIONArrested numerous times, Brandon is now serving four years in jail for robbery and probation violation.

LATEST UPDATE: DECEMBER 2011It was two years ago, soon after his prison visit, that Brandon was arrested and convicted for auto theft. He was given a four year sentence for his crime. According to his mother, Brandon is expected to be released this February from Chester County Prison.

Brandon’s mother strongly feels that Brandon can not be trusted, and because of that, he is no longer welcome in her home. Brandon will have to move to a halfway house on the day of his release.

Brandon’s mother reports that Brandon’s biggest regret is not following through with Job Corps. He recently had his birthday in prison, and is now 20 years old.