These young people warn other young people that breaking the law is not worth the cost. A feature that sets this program apart from similar programs, making it so compelling, is that it goes beyond just the legal consequences. It illustrates the wider impact a youth's actions can have on his or her family, friends, and community. For instance, one boy we interviewed said he thought his behavioral problems hastened his mother's death from a heart attack. He attended her funeral in handcuffs, wearing his orange jumpsuit, and in the custody of two armed guards.
Parents can face the consequences of their child's bad behavior, too.
Parents of a juvenile placed on probation have to pay a court fee for each month of probation their child serves. Middle school students who take this course learn what to expect if they go before a judge. One exercise, a mock trial for juvenile drug possession, gives students a script with parts to play. Gang-involved drug offenses also warrant harsher penalties. For example, four street gang members, caught together selling drugs, face tougher penalties.