The Demise of Jolt: The Politics of Being "Scared Straight" in Michigan

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Abstract
Michigan's Department of Corrections recentl y completed an evaluation of Project JOLT, a "Scared Straight" type of program. The evaluation failed to find any' benefits to juveniles from the program, and therefore the department recommended its cancellation. This, in turn, resulted in a public hearing at which this recommendation was challenged b y raising a number of considerations that went beyond the evaluation study. This paper clarifies the debate between the tvo sides and raises some theoretical, methodological, and political issues surrounding the Scared Straight approach.