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Parents who are posting positive feedback about these programs need to really do some research to see that what they are promoting could very well be the very thing that gets a child hurt if not killed. This is very serious business, so I would urge you all to do your research.

The other side ...
There is no proof that these programs work. There is proof, however, that things can go very wrong when a child is sent miles away from home for "behavior modification". The case of Martin Lee Anderson is a good example. 14-year old Martin took his grandmother's car for a ride and was placed in a boot camp. The next day, he died after being beaten by a group of guards who were supposed to be there to help him. You can find articles and see video clips at www.caica.org; www.isaccorp.org; www.fornits.com; ####www.kathymoya.com/FICA/index.html. Also, while you are visiting these sites you can read about deaths in programs to see that Martin is not the only one, there are many. So, while some people will support these programs there is another side, another story that needs to be told and that needs to be heard. It is my hope that parents will do the research before sending their child to any residential treatment facility, including boot camps. There are other alternatives and I feel that we, as parents, need to seek those out before giving strangers power over our children. It is important to remember that many children are sent to programs for doing things we did as kids. Most of us were not sent away and we did just fine. Some of this is just normal teen behavior that needs to be dealt with at home with love and guidance, and constructive discipline. If a child takes grandma's car out for a ride without permission it would probably be quite effective to have him wash all of the family cars, including grandma's, inside and out, each week for a month. And perhaps he might have to go over to grandma's to help with some yard work. Sometimes these forms of discipline are all that is needed. I realize there are some kids who are out of control and who need some form of intervention, but most kids who are sent to these programs, from what we have heard and read, are sent there for minor infractions and for issues such as ADHD, anger problems, depression following a divorce, etc. These programs are not proven to work for these conditions.
 

Please read the Department of Justice report, "Preventing Crime: What Works,
What Doesnt, Whats Promising" ####www.ncjrs.org/pdffiles/171676.pdf

Get tough and scared straight type boot camps do NOT work! Even the DOJ found that out, though I'm sure they were dragged kicking and screaming to that conclusion by irrefutable data. Kudos to them, too, for allowing the facts to influence their thinking. Hope spring eternal!

Yes, these types of programs are very good for forcing compliance. They're even pretty effective sometimes at getting the kid to evince solid entheusiasm for the program and all it represents. But they're not the least bit therapeutic or helpful. Just ask those of us who have been there. There are plenty of us posting regularly through the Fornits site referenced in another comment.

You might ask yourself why so many kids are rebelling? Why do they think it's a better deal to put their time and energy into gaining status w/ the local gangs than by getting that much vaunted certificate of completion for their 12 year internment in our public indoctrination centers? It's not that they're too dumb to see plain common sense. It's that they're too smart to miss the numerous highschool diploma holders who make up the welfare roles and prolee populations all around them.

Something has gone terribly wrong with our society. That's true. But it's not the kids who are disordered. We're manufacturing them to the very same specs as we ever did. It's the systems we're throwing them into that are disordered. The entire TOUGHLOVE hategroup, as manifest in public and private organizations that have grown up like choke weed in our society over the past 30 years rests on the mantra "the beatings will continue until the crying stops." Sometimes, they crying doesn't stop till the breathing stops. Here is just a partial list of kids who we know of who have died (deader than doornails, no do overs) at the hands of well intended fanatics very like the writer from Minnesotta:
####www.teenadvocatesusa.homestead.com/tribute1.html

 

think this is a good thing as long as they have good leaders with the correct goals in mind and not just on a power trip. I truly believe there should be a uniform dress code in place in all schools.

They dress like gangs and then act it out. These $100 shoes and clothes they feel pressured to wear just to fit in is a big problem.
 

HOW ABOUT A SIMILAR PROGRAM FOR YOUNG GIRLS

I heard that the program is for boys and girls. They alternate weekends.

Great article are there any such programs throughout the West Contra Costa area and how can I have my child enrolled. Do you know of any other Boot Camp/Wilderness programs for young troubled teens which don't run a parent into bankruptcy.

Thank you
Pareant in need of help

I think it's great that this camp exists! I feel programs like this give kids the opportunity to see something new and learn to be more respectful to themselves and others.

great to see the video, hear the voices and listen to the commentary to round out the story.

we have a program like this here in minnesota.we live in a town of 2400 people.this town has 0 tolerance in school and on the streets.police are watching all the time.the program is excellent.the kids know if you mess up in any way they will go to the camp.my grandson went once 3 years ago for fighting in school.he never had to go again.they should have this program in every county in the country.kids need the discipline.there is to much violence nowdays that can be stopped with the parents help in getting involved in your program.parents can be the biggest problem. by not following up after the child comes home from the camp.parents #### because they can not manage the kid.they go to the camp.comehome and cry.the parents say its to hard.well thats the way they learn. the parents here love the program an dont stick there nose in it. they let the program work. my hats off to those of yous who care about our youth.we need to clean up our children of tommoro or we will all pay the ultamite price.thank yous for carring. Bonnie.Madelia mn.

we have a program like this here in minnesota.we live in a town of 2400 people.this town has 0 tolerance in school and on the streets.police are watching all the time.the program is excellent.the kids know if you mess up in any way they will go to the camp.my grandson went once 3 years ago for fighting in school.he never had to go again.they should have this program in every county in the country.kids need the discipline.there is to much violence nowdays that can be stopped with the parents help in getting involved in your program.parents can be the biggest problem. by not following up after the child comes home from the camp.parents #### because they can not manage the kid.they go to the camp.comehome and cry.the parents say its to hard.well thats the way they learn. the parents here love the program an dont stick there nose in it. they let the program work. my hats off to those of yous who care about our youth.we need to clean up our children of tommoro or we will all pay the ultamite price.thank yous for carring. Bonnie.Madelia mn.