NCJ Number
168996
Journal
Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice Volume: 13 Issue: 2 Dated: (May 1997) Pages: 172-183
Date Published
1997
Length
12 pages
Annotation
After an overview of the Alabama boot camp program, known as the Disciplinary Rehabilitation Unit (DRU), this article presents the methodology and findings of an evaluation that focused on self-reported change and recidivism.
Abstract
The DRU, which began in September 1988 at the Kilby Correctional Facility and was later relocated to the Childersburg Prison, can accommodate more than 180 offenders. The program normally lasts 90 days. DRU's main components are marching, discipline, physical training, hard work, drug and alcohol treatment, individual and group counseling, and the 12-Step program used by Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. Evaluation data were collected over a 6-month period. It included the administration of an outgoing questionnaire to 77 DRU participants. The overall objective of the questionnaire was to determine whether participants believed they had experienced changes in their attitudes and behavior after completing the program. The recidivism portion of the study compared three groups: DRU participants, parolees, and probationers. Recidivism was defined as reoffending that led to return to the Alabama Department of Corrections. Boot camp participants had a 1-year recidivism rate of 14.4 percent, compared to a rate of 10.2 percent for parolees and 17.4 percent for probationers. The majority of DRU participants reported that they learned self- control and discipline from the program. A majority also reported that they believed the DRU experience gave them a positive outlook on life. 1 table and 22 references