The concept of a "boot camp" for young offenders - exposing them to tough, quasi-military life to jolt them out of criminal tendencies and teach some lessons about discipline and hard work - is gaining in popularity around the country.
More than 50 boot camps holding 8,000 inmates have been established in 30 states and the U.S. Senate recently appropriated $3 billion to help build more of them. During a special session of the Utah Legislature in October, lawmakers authorized the establishment of work camps or boot camps for youthful criminals. State officials are exploring ways to run such camps.But many advocates expect too much from boot camps. While the experience may work for some, a decade of experience shows that camps don't accomplish the things that officials hope. For example, recidivism for boot camp graduates is about the same as it is for ex-prisoners.
A study in Louisiana showed that 14.3 percent of those who finish boot camp are arrested again within six months, compared to 15.4 percent of parolees from regular prisons. Other state figures are comparable.
And these represent only the best-behaved inmates. Those who can't accept the discipline are kicked out and sent to prison. The failure rate for a 90-day term ranges anywhere from 50 percent to 80 percent. This has actually raised the number of youthful offenders going to prison.
One surprise is that boot camps are not a cheaper alternative to prison. A study in Montana showed that a boot camp inmate cost $50 a day, compared to $42 for a prison inmate. A year in boot camp could cost almost as much as tuition for a year at Stanford University.
Boot camps also raise the specter of abuse from overzealous "drill instructors" trying to toughen up their young charges.
All of this doesn't mean that the boot camp idea should be discarded. The right kind of camp in the right place and run by the right people could be a positive experience for some youths. The emphasis is on "some."
Utah officials should approach the concept with a healthy level of skepticism and not expect such camps to be a cure-all.