NCJ Number
171490
Date Published
1997
Length
41 pages
Annotation
This fourth in a series of studies that have examined Florida's juvenile boot camps focuses on the first four platoons to enter the Martin County Sheriff's Office Boot Camp (MCSOBC).
Abstract
MCSOBC is a paramilitary residential treatment program designed to last 4 months. The program has a structure of military discipline and a content of physical training, academics, and rational emotive therapy. Boot camp graduates must receive aftercare services after graduation; these include day treatment (supervision and services provided during the day at a specific location). Findings of this evaluation show that 55 of the 60 recruits admitted in the first four platoons graduated from boot camp. The average age at admission was 16. Sixty-seven percent of the graduates were black. Over one-half of the graduates were committed to boot camp for felony property offenses. The average length of stay at the MCSOBC, including additional time served by graduates returned to boot camp for noncompliance with aftercare rules, was 132 days. As a group, the graduates increased approximately 8 months in reading, one grade, 3 months in math, and 6 months in language on the Test of Adult Basic Education. Fifty percent of the graduates successfully completed aftercare. Based on available data, 44 percent of the graduates were employed after release from boot camp. Sixty-nine percent of the graduates were rearrested within 1 year of graduation from boot camp, and 58 percent have subsequently been adjudicated or convicted on new charges. Graduates were most likely to be rearrested for felony property offenses. Over one- half of the rearrests occurred within 3 months of graduation from boot camp. 17 tables and 6 figures