NCJ Number
175028
Journal
Journal of Offender Rehabilitation Volume: 28 Issue: 1/2 Dated: 1998 Pages: 71-87
Date Published
1998
Length
17 pages
Annotation
This study shows that boot camp graduates in Oklahoma were slightly more likely to recidivate than both probationers and traditionally incarcerated prison inmates; additionally, race, age, and type of offense also influenced the likelihood of recidivism.
Abstract
Oklahoma was one of the first States to establish a boot camp program as a result of passage of the Non-Violent Intermediate Offender Act in 1984. In 1986 the program was renamed the Regimented Inmate Discipline (RID) Program. Like most other boot camp programs, RID emphasizes discipline and regimentation. Participants are males, and most are serving time for either burglary, theft, or drug offenses. These offenders usually are kept away from the general inmate population, but the program is housed in a 400-bed medium-security prison rather than in a stand-alone facility. The RID Program is based on seven key features: physical conditioning, rigid dress codes, grooming and hygiene standards, limited movement and early lockdown, structured leisure time, limited personal property, and intensive programming. The participants stay in the program from 90 to 180 days. If they have successfully handled the challenges of boot camp, trainees usually are released on probation. Unsuccessful participants are usually sent to prison to serve the remainder of the original sentence. To test the findings from previous research against the Oklahoma experience, the offenders were divided into two categories: property offenders and drug offenders. Cross tabulations were run to help determine the relationship between the categorical variables. Cramer's V was computed to determine the relationship between the independent and dependent variables. Findings show that the RID graduates were slightly more likely to recidivate than those who received other dispositions. In order to identify the influences on and in the lives of boot camp participants, a group was selected for inclusion in a more extensive survey. Eighty-three participants were selected for a study on the attitudes of boot camp trainees. Nearly three-fourths of the respondents felt their boot camp experience had helped them. Past research has shown positive attitudinal change in boot camp trainees, but apparently this change does not result in a reduction in recidivism. The implication of these findings is that boot camps should be implemented cautiously and continuously evaluated to determine what elements influence program success. 7 tables and 26 references