Eric Peterson

In the following viewpoint, Eric Peterson contends that boot camps for juvenile criminals, which provide military-style discipline and physical training, can have positive results. He asserts that participants’ academic skills improve and that many of these youths find jobs after leaving the camp. In addition, he claims, boot camps are less costly than traditional confinement. While Peterson concedes that these programs are not as successful as more traditional programs at reducing recidivism, he argues that boot camps can achieve their goals if they follow certain guidelines. Peterson is a program manager in the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention’s (OJJDP) Research and Program Development Division.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. According to Peterson, what was the program completion rate in Cleveland"

2. In...