NCJ Number
128220
Date Published
1989
Length
7 pages
Annotation
Commonly known as boot camp prisons due to their military orientation, shock incarceration programs in Georgia, New York, and other localities are designed to confine inmates for a short period of time in a highly regimented program of strict discipline and physical exercise.
Abstract
The programs are intended primarily for young, nonviolent adult offenders with no record of adult incarceration and generally operate as separate entities within larger correctional institutions. Brief program confinement is intended to "shock" participants into realizing the harsh reality of prison life without subjecting them to long prison sentences and direct contact with hardened offenders. Georgia's Special Alternative Incarceration programs are intended for young, first-time offenders between 17 and 26 years of age. The program philosophy calls for an intensified, rigid atmosphere where high standards of self-discipline, appearance, and commitment are required. The annual per capita cost of running the programs is $2,586, compared to $11,107 for prison/youth centers, $2,896 for diversion centers, $1,266 for intensive probation supervision, and $274 for regular probation. New York's Camp Monterey is a 250-bed, stand-alone facility where inmates spend 180 days. They work 8 hours a day, participate in physical training and military drill, and receive other program services such as adult basic education and individual counseling. In general, shock incarceration is popular with the public, elected officials, and many criminal justice professionals, even though its effectiveness in achieving correctional goals has not been proven. 4 references and 2 tables