NCJ Number
156752
Date Published
1995
Length
11 pages
Annotation
The Manatee County (Fla.) Juvenile Boot Camp opened in March 1993 and is the first of its kind in Florida.
Abstract
The 30-bed facility is for males ages 13-17 who have committed many serious violations such as strong-arm robbery and auto theft but have no mental or physical problems. The 4-month program is operated by 15 correctional personnel who have received more than 200 hours of training for the boot camp assignment. The boot camp costs $56 per day per juvenile. The $270,000 compound consists of a dormitory, a smaller building for meals and classes, and a small obstacle course for physical training, all surrounded by a high chain link fence. Each day includes wake-up call at 5 a.m.; breakfast at 5:30; exercises and drills until 11:30; lunch and an hour of personal time; an afternoon of counseling, classroom work, and homework; and lights out at 9 p.m. Interviews revealed youths' satisfaction with the program. In addition, a preliminary study revealed that graduates did better on the average than other incarcerated youths and cost taxpayers less money. A total of 51.7 percent of boot camp recruits, 66 percent of youths in moderate-risk programs, and 58.5 percent of youths in high-risk programs were found guilty of a crime within 1 year of graduating. 5 references