Juvenile Boot Camp as punishement for delinquent juveniles, good or bad idea?

Personally and professionally, I believe the boot camp alternate sentencing is an excellent tool for teens. If you look at the sentencing structure, it is for non violent first time offenders. It is strictly a voluntary program which the offender can drop out anytime he feels it is not right for him.

The program is going to give mental structure and discipline to someone still in the formative years and if accepted and followed, will greatly reduce the likelyhood of the teen re-offending later. It is a turning point in a young life that has a definite advantage in reducing recidivism.

Following five years after "graduation" of the Ohio boot camp training, 85% of the teens making it through the system have not committed further crimes again.

I am a male, 58 years old

I'm seventeen. It depends on the person and the situation. Depending on what they're doing that is considered delinquency, it can be a good and bad idea. If it's a last resort for someone who is truly out of control and has outrageous bad behavior and they refuse to cooperate or do things they absolutely need to do and continue to resist against parents (this doesn't mean just going against parents' wishes, of course), then sending them to boot camp could be a positive way to put their life on a good track so they will be able to grow up successfully and become a decent person. If it's a punishment that parents want to give because it's the harshest they can come up with and really wouldn't solve any problems and would just make their child hate them for sending them away to a horrible place, then it would be a terrible decision.

I am also a Justice Studies student and I work at a juvenile detention center. I think it's a good idea in theory. I unfortunately don't think they work because all the kids, once released go back to their old lifestyles....gangs, family problems, drugs, etc. I feel for these kids that are making an honest effort to change their lives but just can't seem to make it happen.

Female, 30-something

very bad idea. I work with extreme at risk youth and have a 93% success rate changing these kids lives around. I think juvenile detention is not productive. However, boot camp is good for a few (not the majority).

Good idea. My biological father when he was 17 was a drug dealer, he could have faced about 5-10 years I think? Anyway he was sent to boot camp instead. Hasn't been arrested since. Prison does nothing but keep that anger inside of you. They work your *** off in boot and shake that anger out of you.

Kids are so ******* whacked out these days, the discipline would do them good. Btw I'm 17...