Effects of Correctional Boot Camps on Offending

Doris Layton Mackenzie, David B. Wilson, Suzanne B. Kider

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

100 Scopus citations

Abstract

A systematic review incorporating meta-analytic techniques of correctional boot camps studies was conducted. An intensive search identified 771 documents of which 144 were deemed potentially relevant, located, and evaluated for eligibility. In 37 documents, 29 studies were judged eligible for inclusion in the systematic review. The 29 studies resulted in 44 samples providing the primary unit of analysis. Quasi-experimental and experimental studies evaluated a residential program with a militaristic environment and compared the recidivism of participants to a comparison group receiving another correctional sanction. In 9 studies, boot camp participants had lower recidivism than did comparison groups; in 8, comparison groups had lower recidivism; and in the remaining studies, no significant differences were found. A meta-analysis found no overall significant differences in recidivism between boot camp participants and comparison samples. Further analyses indicated the results cannot be explained by differences in study methodology, offender characteristics, or boot camp program components.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)126-143
Number of pages18
JournalThe ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science
Volume578
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2001

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Sociology and Political Science
  • General Social Sciences

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