Unsuccessful Boot Camp Prisons

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Recommended: Effectiveness of military-style boot camps

Unsuccessful Boot Camp Prisons
Juvenile delinquents who have committed crimes from low risk to high risk offenders are often sent to Military style boot camps as opposed to prison. Being in the Military myself, I know exactly how a boot camp is ran. Judges, the public, and politicians promote boot camps as opposed to prison. However, research has shown that boot camps are not successful in keeping juvenile delinquents out of handcuffs. Military based boot camps for juveniles are not effective in reducing recidivism because boot camps model aggressive behavior, bond delinquents together, target unnecessary needs, and the juveniles are forced to attend. Military style boot camps are very aggressive, demanding, and challenging for attendees. …show more content…

Written in the text book, Corrections in America: An Introduction, “Boot camps tend to do the following: Target non-crime-producing needs, such as physical conditioning, drill and ceremony, and self-esteem” (Allen 145) Drill and ceremony may teach delinquents discipline, only if they are able to apply to real life situations, self-esteem can make delinquents more confident to commit crimes, and physical conditioning can get delinquents in better shape to run or fight the police. These attributes learned in boot camp can be put to good use if applied to living a straight life, but these delinquents tend to live a life full of crime. In conclusion, research shows Military based boot camps are not successful for juvenile delinquents. I like the idea of having young offenders go to boot camp to hopefully turn their life around and live a law-abiding life. I agree with the text in terms of, boot camps should shy away from militaristic style and lean towards education, substance abuse treatment, aftercare, job corps, and industrial components. Because the best way to get away from a crime filled life is to find a new and better life abiding the law and being a contributor to

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