Modeled after the 'Scared Straight' program, the U-Turn program gives youth and their parents an opportunity to view the and facilities, and to have the children experience face-to-face encounters with deputies and selected inmates who talk to the youth about the repercussions of their behavior. The program's intent is to educate youth and their parents about the consequences of crime and the realities of prison life while reinforcing the value of making smart decisions (staying in school, abstaining from drugs and alcohol, making wise choices about peers, employment, parental involvement, etc.) in order to keep youth from having any further contact with the juvenile justice system. The U-Turn program is a partnership between Oakland County Youth Assistance and the Oakland County Sheriff's Office.
