NCJ Number
165601
Date Published
1996
Length
15 pages
Annotation
The McNeil Island Work Ethic Camp in Washington State represents an alternative sentencing option for adult offenders.
Abstract
The philosophy of the camp is that behaviors and attitudes can be learned and transferred to all areas of an offender's life. The purpose of the camp is to provide a practical, cost- effective alternative to traditional prison sentences and boot camps. The camp converts an adult offender's more lengthy prison sentence into a 4-month intensive employment experience within the prison environment. Adult offenders with no history of violence or sex crimes are eligible for the camp. The camp is designed to address the shortage of prison beds for violent offenders, to reduce the high cost of incarceration, and to impact criminal thinking and behavior. Approximately 1,700 offenders a year are eligible for the camp. After screening for eligibility, the offender has the opportunity decline or agree to camp participation. The scope of the Work Ethic Camp program and its aftercare component are described, and the program is assessed in terms of cost-effectiveness and behavior change. 2 photographs