BOOT CAMPS, JUVENILE-OFFENDERS, AND CULTURE SHOCK

While much has been written in recent years about the use of ''Boot Ca mps'' in the rehabilitation of offenders, researchers have paid little attention to precisely how the indoctrination process works: what are its norms; how they are established, reinforced and maintained; and t heir temporary and long-term effects on offenders. Because boot camps are relatively new, they are still in what is sometimes referred to as the ''pre-paradigm'' stage. A theoretical model, though sorely needed to understand how the boot camp experience effects offenders, has yet to to be proposed. In this article the authors provide an overview of boot camps in the U.S., describe their experiences at Camp Roulston ( a boot camp for juvenile offenders near Cleveland), present an experie ntial model of the boot camp based on culture shock theory, and discus s the strengths and weaknesses of boot camps and how they can become m ore effective in the rehabilitation of offenders.