Abstract
Two hundred thirty four adult male inmates entering prison were randomly assigned to an early release program in either a correctional boot camp or a large, traditional prison in the Maryland state correctional system. Boot camp releasees had marginally lower recidivism compared to those released from the traditional prison. A pre-test, post-test self report survey indicated the boot camp program had little impact on criminogenic characteristics except for a lowering of self control. In contrast, inmates in prison became more antisocial, lower in self control, worse in anger management, and reported more criminal tendencies by the end of their time in prison. Criminogenic attitudes and impulses were significantly associated with recidivism. The impact of the boot camp diminished to non-significance when antisocial attitudes or anger management problems were added to the models predicting recidivism. Implications for jurisdictions considering whether to operate correctional boot camps are discussed.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 221-246 |
Number of pages | 26 |
Journal | Journal of Experimental Criminology |
Volume | 3 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Sep 2007 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Anger management
- Antisocial attitudes
- Boot camp prisons
- Correctional boot camps
- Correctional treatment
- Corrections
- Recidivism
- Self-control
- Shock incarceration programs
- Therapeutic prisons
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Law