Juvenile Boot Camps

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Boot Camps
Juvenile Boot Camps: A Bad Alternative

Since their beginning in 1983 in Georgia, boot camps have spread to more than half the States and have gained a vast amount of appeal because of policies. Supporters of boot camps believe these camps rehabilitate offenders and curb future criminal behavior, as opposed to jails, which offers no chance of rehabilitation. Florida operates more juvenile boot camps than any other State in the United States. An important aspect of this program is not only the utilization of local resources but also the partnership local and State governments have created to promote community involvement. Boot camps have been shown to have some positive aspects; however, as an alternative, these camps have not proven to be as successful as local and state government anticipated.
Boot camp programs are generally designed for young, nonviolent offenders with their first felony conviction. In 1989, the Florida statue pertaining to juvenile justice was revised, authorizing the creation of juvenile boot camps. These camps were to target “deep-end,” more serious offenders, in contrast to adult boot camps, which are typically designed for first-time, nonviolent offenders

(F.S. Chapter 39). However, in 1994, the statue stipulated that eligible juveniles were those who had been committed
to the department for any offense that, if committed by an adult, would be a felony, other than a capital felony, a life felony, or a violent felony or the first degree. The statue intended the programs to be an intensive educational, physical training, and rehabilitative program. The State set minimum standards for policies and procedures and serves as the foundation for State oversight of boot camp programs.
Rehabilitation and cost are the goals most often pursued by correctional practitioners and policymakers (Parent, 1994). Juvenile boot camps revolve around many objectives: reducing recidivism, cuttin...