1. Pros and Cons Meaningful Purpose By 1ST Sgt. Darrell
Phillips Frenship ISD Juvenile Bootcamps
2. Pros and Cons 3. During the 1990s, Juvenile Correctional Boot
Camps became an increasingly popular sentencing option for Juvenile
delinquents. In 1996 through 2001, Texas juvenile crime declined by
40% after the STAR program (Specialized Training and
Rehabilitation) became popular throughout the State The Star
program which was mandated by Texas Juvenile Probation Commission
has grown to over 100 different programs and it now has its own
annual summer training program for its Drill Instructors that deals
with issues of Boot camp standards, legal liabilities, and basic
compliances. 4. Despite growing controversy of correctional
Juvenile boot camps and its true effectiveness in dealing with
juvenile delinquency, properly managed juvenile boot camps has been
as successful as regular correctional programs .The controversy has
been primarily over whether the camps are an appropriate way to
manage and treat juvenile delinquents and what impact the camps
have over adjustment and behavior while they attend and after
release. 5. Despite their growth in popularity in the 1990s, Boot
camps remain controversial with critics questioning whether their
military- style methods are appropriate to managing and treating
juvenile delinquents and positively affecting juvenile behavior.
When questioned, juveniles in boot camps resoundingly responded
positively to their institutional environment. 6. Boot camp
juveniles stated they were better prepared for release, were given
more therapeutic programming, and had more structure and control.
The one exception was that boot camp youths were more likely to
report that they were in danger from staff in which could create a
negative environment for therapy and educational achievement. 7.
Critics also states that the camps confrontational environment is
in direct opposition to the type of positive interpersonal
relationships and supportive atmosphere that is needed for the
juveniles positive development. From their perspective, the boot
camp environment is antithetical to quality therapeutic
programming. The boot camp atmosphere itself---strict control over
juveniles activities and confrontational interactions between the
drill instructors and youths----may cause juveniles to fear the
Drill Instructors, which then create a negative environment for
therapy and educational achievement. 8. Proponents of the camps
state that the boot camp environment is conducive to positive
growth and change. Proponents believe the structure and control the
Drill instructors have over the participants create a safe
atmosphere in which the juveniles are less likely to fight or be
victimized than they would be in less restrictive environments
furthermore, advocates argue that the incorporation of the military
model builds camaraderie among juveniles and fosters respect for
staff. 9. Research shows that although the boot camp environment
appears to be radically different from that of traditional
residential facilities and the fear of its potentially negative
impact, recidivism reduction is more apparent in boot camp settings
and juveniles tend to want to return voluntarily due to the
structure and discipline boot camps provide, and juveniles on the
majority, is lacking the tough discipline that boot camps provide
in the home settings 10. As we continue to weigh the value of the
boot camp setting, we must look for at total quality management and
performance-base standards to change the focus from views on best
practices to desired outcomes. From this perspective, the focus
should shift from what is thought to be the best way to manage a
facility to the actual outcomes desired. Broadly defined, outcomes
include client and staff. 11. MEANINGFUL PURPOSE 12. Perceptual
Environmental Conditions Scales Control: Do staff have control over
the residents? Do residents do what staff tells them? Do residents
escape? Do residents have drugs and weapons? Resident danger: Do
residents worry about being punched by other residents? Are they
afraid of other residents? Are residents mean to each other? Do
they fight? Do residents get sexually attacked? Staff Danger
(Juvenile Perspective): Are residents afraid of staff? Do staff
grab, push, or shove residents? Are staff mean to residents? Staff
danger (Staffs perspective): Are residents mean to staff? Is staff
in danger of being punched or hit by residents? Do residents grab,
push or shove staff? 13. Environmental danger: Do staff protect
residents? Is resident property safe? Are gangs in the boot camp?
Does staff catch and punish troublemakers? Is there enough staff to
keep residents safe? Does staff prevent violence and forced sex
among residents? Activity: Do residents have activities to keep
them busy? Do they spend time on school work? Are they busy at
night? Do they plan what they will do when they leave? Do they
exercise? D o they have activities when they are not in school?
Care: Do staff encourage residents to try new activities? Does
staff help residents with school work after class? Does staff tease
residents? Does staff help residents with personal problems? Is the
health care good? Are residents friendly? Does staff care about the
residents? Quality of Life: Do residents exercise? Is it noisy? Do
residents have privacy in the shower and toilet? Do residents get
enough to eat? 14. Perceptual Environmental Conditions Scales
Structure: Do residents follow a set schedule? Do they study at
certain times? Do they know of consequences for breaking rules? Are
they messy? Are there rewards for achieving positive standards? Is
staff consistent in implementing discipline? Justice: Are residents
punished even when they do not do anything wrong? Does staff use
force? Can residents file a grievance? Are residents aware of the
grievance process? Can staff and residents work out problems? Will
something bad happen if a resident files a grievance? Are
punishments fair? Preparation for release: Are residents encouraged
to plan for release? Have their grades improved? Their attitude
improved? Do they set goals for the future? Individual Planning:
Does residents have individual meetings with staff? Do they get
help with their problems? Does the residents receive individual
counseling? 15. Conclusion The concept of Juvenile Bootcamp works.
There needs to be more public relations work to promote the
positives of the Bootcamp concept. Bootcamps, like any other
adolescent facility, should be judged by the standard and the
success of its individual program and not by the publicity of rogue
bootcamps. Like any other juvenile facility, bootcamps are under
the careful watch of State mandated entities and civil rights
organizations, information on individual bootcamps and its
histories can be obtained through these organizations. 16. When Do
I Start Believing In Myself? I asked myself this question the other
day about when should I start believing in myself and as I recalled
some situations in my life, this is what I came up with: In a rain
storm with no shelter? When Im tired and no rest? When Im hungry
and no food? When Im sick and no medicine? Every time I recalled a
time I thought I should believe in myself, it was in times of
distress and despair, At times when it seemed as if I didnt have
the answer to this question. Times when I felt like giving up. I
then read an affirmation that stated, I cannot expect anyone to
believe in me until I began to believe in myself. I dont ask myself
this question anymore because I began to have a positive outlook on
life and realizing that believing in myself comes out of normal
positive everyday situations also. I believe in myself every
morning when I wake up, I really believe in the person I see every
morning in the mirror as I brush my teeth and wash my face. I
believe in the person who I am without anyone telling me who Im
not. I believe that God makes no mistakes, so therefore Im not one.
I believe in me because I want you to believe in me also. 17.
Contact To learn more: Lisa Stancil [email protected] (830)
460-4155 www.StarPrograms.com
