Axis
Social Reintegration
Problems addressed
Recidivism

Effectiveness

No Effect

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No Effect

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Description

Boot Camps are programs for adolescent or adult offenders designed as alternatives to incarceration or non-custodial measures, such as probation. They are modeled on the operating regimen of military boot camps and involve activities such as drills, ceremonies, and physical training. Rigorous daily schedules are followed and may include punishments for misbehavior that often involve physical activities. Programs differ in content and the provision of physical and therapeutic activities, which may include training, substance abuse treatment, and cognitive skills enhancement.

Country of application
  • United States
Evidence

The outcome of three systematic reviews of studies conducted in the United States (the first based on 32 studies, the second on 44, and the third on 16) shows evidence that the intervention can produce both reductions and increases in criminal behavior, but, overall, it has been concluded that this type of intervention does not generate a statistically significant effect on crime [1] [2] [3].
The first review notes that individual studies have found statistically significant positive and negative effects on crime, although the overall analysis showed that boot camps have not had an overall effect on participants’ recidivism rates [1]. This result was consistent across all three reviews.
There are indications (based on three studies included in the first systematic review) that individuals who participate in disciplinary boot camp programs are more likely to recidivate into criminal/illegal behavior compared to those who participate in alternative probation programs [1].

Bibliography

[1] Wilson, D. B., MacKenzie, D. L. y Mitchell, F. N. (2005). Effects of Correctional Boot Camps on Offending. Campbell Systematic Reviews, 1(1), 1–45. https://doi.org/10.4073/csr.2005.6

[2] Meade, B. y Steiner, B. (2010). The total effects of boot camps that house juveniles: A systematic review of the evidence. Journal of Criminal Justice, 38(5), 841–853. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2010.06.007

[3] Riphagen, R. C. (2010). Effectiveness of Male Juvenile Boot Camps in the United States: A Critical Review of the Literature. Doctoral Dissertation, Azusa Pacific University.

Information Source

Evaluated cases

Quehanna (PA) Motivational Boot Camp

Axis: Social Reintegration
Type: Disciplinary Training Camps
Effectiveness:

Promising

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Promising
Problem type:
Recidivism
Country:
United States
Open

Why might the cases evaluated have different levels of effectiveness in relation to their respective type of solution?
Click here to understand why.

Some cases were not included in the evidence bank due to deficiencies detected in the methodology of their impact evaluations.
Click here to see the list

 

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