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Results for boot camp (pennsylvania)

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Author: Kempinen, Cynthia A.

Title: Pennsylvania's Motivational Boot Camp Program: The Impact of Program Completion on Offender Recidivism. 2009 Report to the Legislature

Summary: Act 215 of 1990, which created Pennsylvania's Motivational Boot Camp Program, also mandated the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing to evaluate the program and to provide a report to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees. The 2009 Legislative Report addresses the following questions: 1) What type of offender goes to Boot Camp?; 2) What self-reported attitudinal and behavioral changes occur among Boot Camp graduates?; 3) What are the predictors of program completion?; and 4) What is the impact of program completion on recidivism? The major findings are as follows: Since the opening of the Boot Camp in 1992 through 2007, there have been 6,114 offenders admitted to the Boot Camp Program. The typical offender entering Boot Camp was young, non-white, male, convicted of a drug offense, and from an urban area. Upon admission to Boot Camp, the majority of offenders reported having a high school diploma, being employed, being single, and having at least one child. Most offenders reported having family members and friends who had previously been incarcerated. The vast majority of offenders also had committed prior offenses, consisting primarily of drug dealing, drug use, and DUI. A sizeable number of offenders were arrested as juveniles, though the average age at first arrest was 18 years. Most offenders had used drugs the day of their offense. The average age of onset for drug use was 15 years of age, and marijuana and cocaine were the predominant drugs of choice. The vast majority of offenders were proud that they were accepted into Boot Camp, and felt that it was a positive experience. Upon graduating from Boot Camp, offenders indicated some positive changes including being less impulsive, acquiring better decision-making skills, and experiencing fewer problems with drugs. Additionally, all of these changes endured after offenders were on parole for six months. After Boot Camp, offenders reported that they were more likely to be employed full-time, less likely to use drugs or alcohol, and less likely to associate with their old friends. The Boot Camp has a high graduation rate, with about 93% of the offenders in our study graduating from the program. Offenders were less likely to complete Boot Camp if they were female, young, had a greater number of prior arrests, had lower expectations for personal change, had difficulty controlling their temper, or found complicated tasks to be more challenging. Overall, about 52% of Boot Camp graduates in our study recidivated within two years, with 20% being recommitted for a technical violation and 32% arrested for a new crime. While offenders who completed Boot Camp were less likely to recidivate, this finding was not significant at the multivariate level. Offenders were significantly more likely to recidivate if they were: male, young, non-white, unemployed, less educated, property offenders, incarcerated as juveniles, or repeat offenders. Additionally, those who indicated they have difficulty controlling their temper, were in need of substance abuse treatment, or came from a less close-knit family were more likely to recidivate.

Details: State College, PA: Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing, 2009. 89p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 8, 2011 at: http://pcs.la.psu.edu/publications/research-and-evaluation-reports/state-motivational-boot-camp-program/ResRptBC2009.pdf#navpanes=0

Year: 2009

Country: United States

URL: http://pcs.la.psu.edu/publications/research-and-evaluation-reports/state-motivational-boot-camp-program/ResRptBC2009.pdf#navpanes=0

Shelf Number: 120713

Keywords:
Alternatives to Incarceration
Boot Camp (Pennsylvania)
Juvenile Offenders
Recidivism