Juvenile boot camps experienced a surge of popularity and prominence beginning in the early 1990s. These camps are aimed at keeping delinquent or at-risk juveniles from continuing their criminal behavior into adulthood. Since their rise to prominence, various studies and reports have been published documenting the success rates of these camps as well as evaluating the impact the camps have on their participants.
Recidivism Impact
State and local municipalities established juvenile boot camp programs in response to rising teen crime during the early 1990s, according to the Department of Justice. One of the main goals of these camps was to lower the teen crime recidivism rate. The theory was that once a juvenile completed the boot camp program, that teen would be less likely to go on to commit crimes. However, the DOJ's own report on the success of these camps showed that recidivism rates were not affected by the boot camp programs, and in some cases the attendees were more likely to go on to commit crimes after completing boot camp. For example, one Department of Justice study looked at children who went to a camp and compared them to a control group that did not attend. After attending, the camp group had a recidivism rate of 72 percent, while the control group had a 50 percent recidivism rate.
Academic Impact
Boot camps are often seen as a way to increase a child's academic performance. The Department of Justice report did show that boot camps improved juveniles' academic performance. In three programs studied, a majority of attendees showed increased reading, math and spelling skills during their time spent in boot camp. When after-care monitoring was added, such as regular therapy or counseling sessions, attendees also experienced a significant increase in employment and educational goals, such as better grades and test scores in school.
Physical Impact
One of the most widely reported aspects of juvenile boot camps has been the deaths and injuries suffered by the juveniles themselves at the camps. In numerous documented cases, juveniles have been injured or killed as a result of boot camp activities. According to the Coalition Against Institutionalized Child Abuse, numerous juveniles have died in boot camps over the years, often as a result of chest compressions, dehydration, asphyxiation or lack of proper medical care.
References
- U.S Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs: Boot Camps for Juvenile Offenders
- U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs: Correctional Boot Camps: Lessons From a Decade of Research
- Yale University Economic Growth Center: The Effectiveness of Juvenile Correctional Facilities: Public Versus Private Management
- Coalition Against Institutionalized Child Abuse: List of Deaths
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