Social Control in a School Setting: Evaluating a School-Based Boot Camp

Abstract

In the past few years, several dramatic incidents have spurred renewed efforts to control violence and prevent crime in schools. Although it has yet to become a matter of much public discussion, what is particularly notable about many of these efforts is the increased collaboration of criminal and juvenile justice agencies with schools in their capacity as formal agents of control. In the present study, the authors evaluate one program that embodies this type of collaboration—Specialized Treatment and Rehabilitation (STAR). STAR is an innovative juvenile boot camp program in a public school setting that is operated through the combined efforts of the school, the juvenile court, and the juvenile probation department. Results of the evaluation revealed that although the program had a relatively small impact on recidivism, perceptions garnered from parents, teachers, and STAR participants were quite favorable for the program overall.