The Effectiveness of Probation Boot Camps

In an attempt to keep juveniles out of prisons and focus on reforming the offender, many different rehabilitation programs became popular. Boot camps are one of the most popular forms of crime prevention and rehabilitation for juvenile delinquency. Many people believe that these boot camps are a beneficial alternative, citing that they effectively reduce costs and recidivism rates. Whether or not these camps are effective is a highly debated issue and has been for several decades. After researching many different boot camps throughout the United States, the statistics are clear, they do not prove to be effective in reducing recidivism rates, helping change the behavior of the offenders, or reducing costs. Nonetheless, these programs enjoy continued popularity both on a government as well as a private level.

Probation Orientation Meetings are held on a monthly basis at the District Office as apart to help reentry initiatives. While in an informal setting, a probation officer and the sentencing judge explains the conditions, requirements and answer question. This assist the offender in understanding what is required to successfully complete probation.

Inmates can learn new job skills, obtain their GED, earn vocational certificates, receive substance abuse treatment, learn about how crimes affect victims and even assist in teaching youths about life in prison.” The Division of Programs and Services are broken into nine main subdivisions: crime prevention, inmate services, volunteers, the Palmetto Unified School District, the Division of Industries, shock incarceration, behavioral and substance abuse, and YOPRS intensive supervision. These main subdivisions are further divided into smaller programs aimed to better address the specific needs of the inmates.

Fitness boot camps can be run outdoor or indoor depending on the trainers and the exercises. They typically have 1-hour sessions. The training is aimed at working every part of your body with a variety of exercises. It would start with dynamic stretching and running, followed by a range of high and low-intensity exercises that may include the use of weights or heavy objects. They also include exercises using body weight such as press ups, pull ups and chin ups, and end with yoga stretches.

Juvenile delinquency is a relatively new phenomenon. For this reason, society’s reactions and solutions to the problem of delinquency are also modern developments. The United States developed the first youth court in 1899 and is now home to many new and formerly untested methods of juvenile rehabilitation and correction. One of many unique programs within the Juvenile Justice system, boot camps are institutions designed to keep delinquent juveniles out of traditional incarceration facilities and still provide a structured method of punishment and rehabilitation. Boot camps developed in the early 1990s and quickly proliferated throughout the nation. Specifically, they are “…short-term residential programs modeled after

Due to the increase of correctional populations that continue to exceed its’ capacity, correctional alternatives were created. Correctional alternatives were to alleviate both prison crowding and the threat to public safety posed by serious offenders (Flores, Holsinger, Latessa, Lowenkamp, & Makarios, 2010). Rehabilitation in the 1970s was a variable correctional goal however by the 1980s intermediate sanctions developed . Intermediate sanctions consist of house arrest, electronic monitoring, boot camps, day reporting centers, intensive supervision probation or parole, community service, fines, and curfews (Tonry, 1990). These sanctions offer community based punishments that focus on deterrence, incapacitation, and retribution (Tonry, 1990).

Rehabilitation is facilitated by the offering of courses, to help the offender address his/her behaviour which society has labelled as “wrong” or inappropriate (Peterson, 1989; Shaffer, 1993). Therefore, a con of the strategy may be that the offenders are unable to access courses that could assist them in rehabilitation. Another purpose of the detention centre for young people may be through the use of a military structure to try and impress on them that they have done wrong (Munice, Hughes & McLaughlin 2002).

While most criminal end up in general population, there are many other ways to do time. Boot camp is an option for petty offenders. Successfully completing the program, criminal offenders can bypass prison all together. Though it may be a safer choice, it is not as easy as it sounds.

These include probation, foster homes, group homes or more restricted placements such as such as detention centers and forestry camps. Probation would fall into supervised release which also includes electronic monitoring, reporting centers. The large number of different types of rehabilitative programs and staff is demanded by the diverse population of juveniles, which require different

They have access to skilled staff members and other supportive program participants, making the process of recovery more amiable. Once the detoxification process is complete, the person is ready to work on addressing their underlying issues. Working through these issues during short term inpatient rehab helps prevent them from resurfacing after treatment is complete. The program participant can expect individual counseling sessions as well as group therapy during their time in treatment. Upon completion of their drug rehab program, the graduate has a clearer perspective on their life and how to maintain their

Have you ever experienced one of the hardest and most challenging things on the planet earth? Boot camp, also known as basic training, is one of the toughest programs you may go through. It requires a lot of physical and mental preparation and strength. Depending on which branch of the military you go into, there are different requirements and needs but one is just as challenging as the other. The length of boot camp is about three to four months long depending on the branch you go into. Boot camp is very mentally and physically challenging but prepares you for your duties in the United States Military.

Criminologist and politicians have debated the effectiveness of correctional rehabilitation programs since the 1970’s when criminal justice scholars and policy makers throughout the United States embraced Robert Martinson’s credo of “nothing works” (Shrum, 2004). Recidivism, the rate at which released offenders return to jail or prison, has become the most accepted outcome measure in corrections. The public's desire to reduce the economic and social costs associated with crime and incarceration has resulted in an emphasis on recidivism as an outcome measure of program effectiveness. While correctional facilities continue to grow, corrections make up an increasing amount of state and federal budgets. The recidivism rate in

A boot camp-type program may be beneficial to some of these residents as sometimes a

With the ever rising prison population in this country, something has to be done rehabilitate criminals rather than just lock them up. Many feel that the “new” prisons, boot camps are the answer (Champion 1990). I will give a brief overview of boot camp institutions, specifically, about the operation and structure of these, the cost involved with both juvenile and adult facilities, and how effective they really are with regard to recidivism.

Boot camps have been a controversial topic since there creation for adults in 1983 ( Gover 2000). The term boot camp is widely used however it contains many different aspects depending on its primary focus. Boot camps are programs based off of basic training in the military ( Mackenzie, Wilson, and Kinder 2001). With the main goal of correctional boot camps being, deterrence, rehabilitation, incapacitation, punishment, and cost control (Peter, Thomas, and Zamberlan 1997). The primary goal of boot camps when they were first created was to reduce overcrowding in prisons and encourage inmates to contribute positively to society (Perez 71). There are many different types of boot camps such as: substance abuse, educational, job training, as well as life counseling which are then separated into juveniles and adults boot camps. Although the main focus of many programs are the same each individual program widely differs from one another . The amount of time inmates spend in boot camp differs widely as well as the activities they preform and the amount of aftercare that is provided (Peter, Thomas, and Zamberlan 1997).