The Massachusetts Boot Camp: Inmate Anecdotes

Abstract

Correction professionals have a responsibility and unique opportunity to restructure programs/policies to assist with meeting current incarceration needs. Boot camps were originally designed to (a) reduce prison overcrowding, (b) decrease rates of recidivism, (c) keep the younger offenders away from the chronic prison population, (d) reduce the cost of incarceration, (e) provide a general deterrence, (f) provide enhanced discipline, and (g) rehabilitate offenders. To date, researchers have yet to closely examine the program, services, and incarceration of boot camps from an inmate's perspective. The subsequent case histories were documented as part of an ongoing program evaluation and quality assurance activity conducted at the Massachusetts Boot Camp.

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