Discouraged by an increase in crime, a shortage of prison space and a high rate of recidivism, innovative approaches to punishment have been implemented over the last few decades. Several sentencing options are currently available that attempt to provide alternatives to incarceration or immediate probationary release into the community. These intermediate sanctions are often novel substitutes to imprisonment for offenders who are deemed a low risk to the safety of society and are unique ways to help criminal offenders spend less time in jail. Experts believe that many offenders who are not firmly committed to a criminal lifestyle can be rehabilitated through programs that combine educational, vocational, employment and drug treatment programs(“Shock
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Sometimes known as shock incarceration, boot camp programs use a military-style approach and were hoped to be “well-planned alternatives to imprisonment for offenders who appear to represent little or no continued threat to the community” (Schmalleger 313). Conceived during the decade of the 1980s, it was hoped that these programs would have a higher rate of rehabilitation than straight imprisonment and could help reduce the cost of imprisonment at the same time. Because this time period saw a huge increase in the number of convicted young offenders who would either be sentenced to time in prison or placed on probation in the community, a fresh approach to other forms of corrections was …show more content…
. .that can overcome the problems of violence, drugs and family dissolution” that mark the early family life of youthful offenders (Fisher). They point out that boot camp programs are too short to overcome this ingrained, learned value system to create long-term changes and believe that these programs are unable to create lasting changes. Most boot camps also limit eligibility to non-violent first offenders (Parent) causing many to question just how they can effectively reduce prison populations using such selective criteria. Very few offenders may meet the difficult entrance requirements. In fact, a Department of Justice briefing concluded that boot camp prisons actually increase general prison populations because of these entrance requirements
Sometimes known as shock incarceration, boot camp programs use a military-style approach and were hoped to be “well-planned alternatives to imprisonment for offenders who appear to represent little or no continued threat to the community” (Schmalleger 313). Conceived during the decade of the 1980s, it was hoped that these programs would have a higher rate of rehabilitation than straight imprisonment and could help reduce the cost of imprisonment at the same time. Because this time period saw a huge increase in the number of convicted young offenders who would either be sentenced to time in prison or placed on probation in the community, a fresh approach to other forms of corrections was …show more content…
. .that can overcome the problems of violence, drugs and family dissolution” that mark the early family life of youthful offenders (Fisher). They point out that boot camp programs are too short to overcome this ingrained, learned value system to create long-term changes and believe that these programs are unable to create lasting changes. Most boot camps also limit eligibility to non-violent first offenders (Parent) causing many to question just how they can effectively reduce prison populations using such selective criteria. Very few offenders may meet the difficult entrance requirements. In fact, a Department of Justice briefing concluded that boot camp prisons actually increase general prison populations because of these entrance requirements