Boot camps and traditional correctional facilities for juveniles: A comparison of the participants, daily activities, and environments

The environments of twenty-seven boot camps and twenty-two traditional facilities were examined in a national study of juvenile correctional facilities. Surveys with administrators and data from institutional files indicated that juveniles in the boot camps had less serious offending histories than did those in traditional facilities. Boot camp environments were more structured and most incorporated military basic training components. There were differences in the use of summary punishments and certain other matters, but few differences were found in therapeutic activities. In general, boot camp juveniles were more active but comparison facilities had more educators and other staff for each juvenile. Juveniles in traditional facilities also had more community contacts. Few institutions had access to any outcome information telling them how and what the juveniles did after release. The potential impact of these differences on the future behavior of juveniles was discussed.