How effective are teen 'boot camps?'

By Christin Bott

December 20, 2004 | Parents trying to deal with troubled teens that are rebellious, disrespectful, experimenting with drugs, getting kicked out of school, or in minor legal trouble, often struggle with a way to get a handle on them. There are many programs available, providing youth or parent help but many parents turn to boot camps to provide rehabilitation for their teens.

Boot camps are correctional programs for youth set up in a military-style environment, emphasizing primarily discipline and physical conditioning. They are generally restricted to nonviolent or first time offenders. These camps are set up as an alternative to longer terms of confinement in juvenile correctional facilities, and many are followed by a period of probation or aftercare following graduation from the program.

The controversy over the effectiveness of boot camps is disputable. Some believe that it is an effective way to treat youth violence; others are opposed and believe that it produces no long term benefit or correction and that teens are still susceptible to recidivism or offending again.

The Surgeon General states "compared to traditional forms of incarceration, boot camps produced no significant effects on recidivism in three out of four evaluation and trends toward increased recidivism in two."

The effectiveness of boot camps, varies with the teen. Some youth develop best under the pressure of "tough love, but other need just plain love. There are other options for troubled teens than sending them off to boot camp," Sarah Seitzinger, a Utah State University student, and opponent of boot camps said.

"There are community youth programs available that supply the attention and stability that youth need, without the demeaning atmosphere of a boot camp," Seitzinger said, "most troubled youth are looking for attention and love because they are not getting it at home."

Those who are advocates for boot camps believe that it is an effective way to deal with teens who need to modify their behavior.

"Boot camps provide a structured environment," Chelsy Bundy, a contact for parent help, and a boarding school representative said. "Teens that come to the school have gained control over their parents and the structured environment provided puts the parents back in control."

The effectiveness of the boot camp can vary from teen to teen, and the outcome is dependent upon the attitude of the youth as well as the parents.

"The effectiveness of the boot camp depends on the kids, as well as the parents, and their willingness to change," Elise Rogers, a sergeant at Thayer Learning Center said. "The teen can change 100 percent, and then relapse if the parents have not; it's a collaborative effort" Rogers said.

The boot camp routine are structured and disciplined. A typical day begins at 6 a.m. beginning with physical training for about 1 hour, which included sit ups, pushups and running, before a half hour breakfast, Rogers said. The day then continues with learning programs, indoor and outdoor cleaning and more physical training between lunch and dinner. At night the teens have hygiene for 45 minutes, were they are allowed to shower before lights go out at 9:30 p.m Rogers said.

"Most kids that come to boot camps are there because of a lack of discipline, the camps give a sense of worth and accomplishment," Rogers said, "they provide discipline, but with positive feedback."

While other alternatives to boot camps are available, the discipline at boot camps make them more efficient.

"With the discipline at boot camps, there is no chance to mess up," Rogers said, "it also forces them to look at themselves and reflect on what they are doing, allowing them to realize that their behavior is wrong."

The association with other troubled teens, is also a factor contributing to the success of the teens, Bundy said.

"The kids in the camps share the same experience, home life, and deviant behavior," Bundy said, "by seeing the paths of others, the kids realize what they are getting into and they learn from others mistakes."

NW
MS