NCJ Number
144040
Date Published
1992
Length
234 pages
Annotation
This is a final report on Phase I (the implementation evaluation phase) of a research project to evaluate juvenile boot camp programs in Cleveland, Denver, and Mobile.
Abstract
The three major goals of Phase I were to complete preparations by the research team to conduct the rigorous experiment that would be the core of Phase II (impact evaluation), to assess whether or not each of the three boot camps would be "evaluable" (prepared for impact evaluation) by the start of year two, and to provide preliminary assessments of each program's operations by the end of year one. Preparation for Phase II was achieved by producing a rigorous design of randomized assignment to experimental and control groups, testing the randomized design at each of the three sites, planning and pretesting instruments for data collection, and planning methods for analysis of the data that would be collected in years two and three. The assessment of the evaluability of each boot camp found that each meets the conditions for an impact evaluation. All have developed and implemented programming techniques that meet the letter and spirit of the Department of Justice Juvenile Boot Camps Initiative. They all include the requisite systems of military-like discipline, physical conditioning, education programming, and rehabilitative counseling. Recommendations from preliminary assessments of boot camp operations pertain to motivation of the youth, the military component, teamwork, rehabilitative counseling, the aftercare component, and staff motivation. 54 references