Juvenile boot camps: a descriptive analysis of program diversity and effectiveness

Is juvenile boot camp policy effective?

“…However, they found no evidence that correctional boot camps reduce crime or recidivism rates. Tyler et al (2001) conducted research by analyzing media news and government reports about boot camps. In addition, they interviewed selected people in the Texas juvenile justice system.…”

“…Existing literature shows that recidivism rates of juvenile boot camps are discouraging (Wilson et al, 2005;Bottcher and Ezell, 2005;Tyler et al 2001;Lutze, 1998;Simon, 1995;Poole and Slavick, 1995;Morash and Rucker, 1990). Some say that boot camps make no difference on recidivism (Wilson et al, 2005), while some researchers state that recidivism among juvenile boot camp participants is higher than that of traditional prisons (Flash, 2003).…”

“…Tyler (2001) claims that some parents tell boot camp administrators that they do not want their child to return home. They say that the state can do whatever it wants.…”

“…Since that time, the popularity of boot camp programs for juveniles has been increasing. However, the considerable proliferation of juvenile boot camps has accelerated after the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention established pilot programs in 1992 (Tyler, Darville, and Stalnaker, 2001) because pilot programs were evaluated as successful to rehabilitate the youth and to deter the future crimes. In addition, the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 set aside funds to establish alternative incarceration methods including boot camps (Simon, 1995).…”

“…A National Institute of Justice report explains the increase of juvenile boot camps in the nation. According to the statistics, thirty-three states established more than seventy-five juvenile boot camp programs by 1997 and the number is increasing every year (Tyler et al, 2001). However, if private camps founded by local jurisdictions are taken into account, then the number becomes much higher.…”