Prison Boot Camps

Intermediate sanction facilities, usually operated by federal, state or county correctional authorities, which provide an alternative to prison for convicted nonviolent offenders who have not served time in a state prison. Prison boot camps vary greatly in size, duration, location, entry point (court system or corrections) and in the level of training, education and treatment that is provided. All are relatively short-term (three to four months) and feature a military environment which stresses strict discipline, obedience, regimentation, drill and ceremony, and physical conditioning which may include hard labor.