Boot camps
Effectiveness of boot camps
Research shows that boot camps are somehow effective in changing young offenders’ behavior by turning them into disciplined people. The boot camps can emerge effective if they succeed in the goals of their founders. First, the boot camps appear effective in that they succeed in allowing little free time for the people held in them. When the inmates in the boot camps are made to engage in productive activities, they have very little time to commit or think about committing a crime (Gültekin & Gültekin, 2012). Secondly, the boot camps are useful in instilling discipline among the inmates. The inmates, in this case, acquire discipline by exercising military training that involved hard labor. In these camps, the inmates go through a physical therapy program, which turns effective in changing their attitude as well as behaviors (Black, 2016). Looking at Chapter 10, discipline is a significant determinant that predicts future rearrests for people who go through boot camps(). According to research, the recent boot camp programs incorporate drug and alcohol treatment, which aim at reducing future cases of drug addiction among the inmates associated with drug crimes (Black, 2016).
Pro and cons of boot camps
One of the benefits of shock incarceration is the reduction of the inmates’ minimum sentencing. According to the video, Shriver states that when the inmates successfully go through the incarceration criteria, they will have their sentences reduced by two and a half years. (). This act of reducing the jail term for the inmates acted as a motivation factor for them. Secondly, shock incarceration is of benefit to the inmate in that it changes their negative attitude into a positive one. According to the video, Shriver is heard engaging the inmates as they say that they expect to gain nothing without going through pain.
However, shock incarceration is not always effective in instilling discipline among the inmates. Some of the inmates held in booth camps may not agree with the policies and activities that take place. They eventually emerge unsuccessful in gaining the incentives that come with the program. According to the video, Riles, a car thief, was unable to go through the camp’s activities, quitted along the way, and was not able to achieve the program’s objectives and eventually was rearrested.
My view on the boot camp sanction
I feel that boot camp incarceration is a program that has a definite objective aimed at reducing incarceration costs and prison overcrowding. The design structure of the program is aimed at not only instilling discipline but also treating inmates to avoid some addictive crimes such as drug abuse. However, the program experiences some setbacks. In a nutshell, the change of attitudes and an increase in discipline among the boot camp inmates result in a safer and secure environment.
Boot camp and age
The boot camp program activities seem not harsh form the young people between the age of fifteen and sixteen years. This age is the most active, and young people in this age bracket engage in non-violent crimes such as drug abuse at an alarming rate. Since the program is of low cost and incorporates the installation of discipline, it is preferably way better than the jail incarceration. At the same vigor with which the young people engage in crime, they would be able to use the same strength in pursuit of discipline and change of attitude towards non-violent crimes.