Is The Change Long Term?
Chances are that you have probably seen or heard about a "boot camp" approach for working with troubled teens. This type of rehabilitation has been used frequently on daytime talk shows and has even received extensive media coverage.
So what are you supposed to really think about these camps? While there are radically varied opinions on these matters, in the end it is hard to say either way.
Many people notice an immediate difference, but does it last? How does boot camp compare to other options? The question when it comes to juvenile boot camps boils down to the question of: Is there any value to the "tough love" approach that many of these camps are based on?
For those who have to deal with a troubled teenager, they may see this as a better alternative than a juvenile detention center.
Studies that have been done generally show that for both youth and adults the rate that people return to illegal activity after these types of camps is the same as if they go to any other type of facility.
The changes don't appear to make a difference long term even though most of the offenders in these camps are non-violent or first-time offenders and they also offer follow up care and counseling. This suggests that while a boot camp may work short term, or for some people, that it does not have a noticeable long-term effect compared to the alternatives.
Some psychologists argue that the confrontational approach that is taken in many of these camps is not a good way to teach positive social behavior. With the types of populations that are generally sent to a boot camp, that being that there are a lack of positive role models, they don't know how to differentiate between appropriate and inappropriate social interaction.
Others argue that this is hooey, as everyone has a choice. A suggested alternative to making the boot camp more successful is having the youth follow up with care and counseling because many do not retain many of the positive skills and behaviors that they learned in camp.
There are alternatives to boot camp, as well, but in the end a decision has to be made for each individual situation. While boot camps have worked well for some juvenile offenders, for others it has not. Consider if the problem is really disciplinary, or is it something else? Boot camp is a legitimate possibility, and one that should not be immediately ruled out if needed.
So what are you supposed to really think about these camps? While there are radically varied opinions on these matters, in the end it is hard to say either way.
Many people notice an immediate difference, but does it last? How does boot camp compare to other options? The question when it comes to juvenile boot camps boils down to the question of: Is there any value to the "tough love" approach that many of these camps are based on?
For those who have to deal with a troubled teenager, they may see this as a better alternative than a juvenile detention center.
Studies that have been done generally show that for both youth and adults the rate that people return to illegal activity after these types of camps is the same as if they go to any other type of facility.
The changes don't appear to make a difference long term even though most of the offenders in these camps are non-violent or first-time offenders and they also offer follow up care and counseling. This suggests that while a boot camp may work short term, or for some people, that it does not have a noticeable long-term effect compared to the alternatives.
Some psychologists argue that the confrontational approach that is taken in many of these camps is not a good way to teach positive social behavior. With the types of populations that are generally sent to a boot camp, that being that there are a lack of positive role models, they don't know how to differentiate between appropriate and inappropriate social interaction.
Others argue that this is hooey, as everyone has a choice. A suggested alternative to making the boot camp more successful is having the youth follow up with care and counseling because many do not retain many of the positive skills and behaviors that they learned in camp.
There are alternatives to boot camp, as well, but in the end a decision has to be made for each individual situation. While boot camps have worked well for some juvenile offenders, for others it has not. Consider if the problem is really disciplinary, or is it something else? Boot camp is a legitimate possibility, and one that should not be immediately ruled out if needed.