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Boot camps may be history
A legislative committee cut all funding for boot camps, directing the money to a new program that emphasizes education and mentoring.
By ALEX LEARY
Published March 24, 2006
TALLAHASSEE - The state's boot camps for juvenile offenders may be history.
With controversy over Martin Anderson's death still raw, a legislative committee on Friday cut all funding for boot camps, directing the money instead to a far less confrontational program under development.
"This is a 100 percent policy shift," said Rep. Gus Barreiro, R-Miami Beach. "Intimidation-based programs in Florida simply don't work."
The House Criminal Justice Appropriations Committee shifted nearly $10.6-million from boot camps to the new program, tentatively called the Sheriff's Training and Respect Program.
It is modeled after the widely recognized successful program in Martin County, which places more emphasis on education, mentoring and so-called after care than some of the other boot camps.
The philosophy resulted in a 20 percent recidivism rate, second-best among all juvenile justice programs in Florida. Other boot camps, including the one in Pinellas County, had recidivism rates as high as 90 percent.
Representatives from the four remaining boot camps (the Bay County facility where Martin Anderson was beaten has closed) met this week to identify "best practices" that can be incorporated in the STAR program.
"Part of the discussion is to have a softer approach," said Chris Caballero, chief of staff for the Department of Juvenile Justice.
Boot camps were thrust into the spotlight following the early January death of 14-year-old Anderson in Panama City. A video shows a half-dozen drill instructors punching and kneeing Anderson after he collapsed while running laps. The controversy led to a call for reform.
Current boot camps that do not elect to meet the new standards will not receive funding, Barreiro said.
Barreiro's committee budget still needs approval in the full House and will need to be matched with the Senate. Sen. Victor Crist, R-Tampa, oversees the counterpart committee and said Friday afternoon that he was unaware of the proposal. His budget includes funding for boot camps other than Bay County.
Still, Crist said he would look at the House proposal.
[Last modified March 24, 2006, 16:08:02]
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