Boot camps are back, needed or not

What we know, what we don't, and what the evidence says, about whether boot camps work.A stack of evidence says boot camps aren't successful. So why is the government bringing them back? Warning: this story mentions suicideThis month, the government will deliver on a campaign promise by launching a pilot 'young offender military academy' - a boot camp - despite a raft of evidence that "scare them straight" programmes are unsuccessful. Minister for Children Karen Chhour says that this scheme will include continued wrap-around service when teens leave the residential section of the programme, including consistent support with mentors in their community. In the pilot, teens will spend the first three months in residence, and a further nine meeting regularly with their mentor.In today's episode of The Detail, RNZ's Phil Pennington says success may depend on resources. "It is a very big task, and resource-intensive." emphasis has been on the transition period that is hugely important, and if that doesn't work the whole thing won't work."This is where similar programmes have failed in the past."The transition has been neglected and therefore these kids have gone on to re-offend. They're trying to get around that, but that's going to take a lot of resources." Minister for Children Karen Chhour says that this scheme will include continued wrap-around service, including consistent support with mentors in their community.Oranga Tamariki will lead the programme, though other agencies including Police and New Zealand Defence Force have been involved. Oranga Tamariki has just cut more than 400 jobs. The pilot will involve up to 10 young offenders between the ages of 14 and 17. A briefing on these military academies from Oranga Tamariki to the minister, released under the Official Information Act, has given some insight into their profile."It is pretty grim," says Pennington. The briefing says that "while the cohort of young people with serious or persistent offending is relatively small, they have the highest needs and the poorest outcomes." It goes on to say that 80 percent have "a confirmed or suspected mental health or disability related diagnosis," 20 percent have "attempted to end their life", 90 percent have "significant learning difficulties", and more than 50 percent of the boys and 25 percent of the girls have "been physically harmed more than three times in the past year." In the podcast, Pennington says the research "pretty much says hard boot camps don't work, soft boot camps can work"…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details