As well as in any other country, juvenile crime is on the rise in the US. How should they be punished? That’s a hard question and a serious issue of debate. There, they have come up with a different alternative to prison, correctional boot camps. In these boot camps, young criminals are forced to take classes and undergo training that is similar to military’s. They have a strict routine, which includes features of army training: double-time marching, push-ups, shaved heads and insults for those who don’t obey quickly. Supporters of this form of correctional system believe that instead of sitting in jails, kids are given a second chance to become useful members in society.

Vocabulary

Under way – being conducted

Aim – goal, purpose

Questionable – doubtful

Offender – criminal

Deter- stop

Recidivism – committing another crime,

Exertion – exercise, traioning

Sell well to – seem like a good idea to, be popular with

Hard evidence – scientific or analytical evidence

FIRST PART – Read the following statements and listen to Part One of the interview. Choose the answer that best completes each statement. Do the same for part two.

Part One: David González

1. Boot camp programs

a. mostly emphasize military drill.

b. use only physical exertion and discipline.

c. have several components

2. Boot camps aim to

a. prepare young offenders for the military.

b. change the way young offenders think.

c. Give young offenders a lot of exercise.

3. There is not much…

a. analytical evidence

b. anedoctal evidence

c. official evidence

…that boot camps are successful.

4. One purpose of boot camp programs that is NOT mentioned is

a. overcrowding

b. recidivism

c. violent behavior

5. People like the idea of boot camps because they offer

a. military training

b. drug counseling

c. quick retribution

Part two: Dale Parent

6. Preliminary findings show that the success rate of boot camps is…

a. much higher than

b. no different than

c. much lower than

… that of prisons.

7. To change criminal behavior, we need to solve basic problems

a. that cause people to commit crimes

b. in the criminals’ families

c. within the prison system

Second Part: Listen to the interview again, then read the following statements. Mark them T (true) or F (false)

Part One: David González

1. David González and Dale Parent both reported on boot camps.

2. There are about fifty boot camp programs in nine states.

3. Military drill, physical training, and drug counseling are all components of boot camp programs.

4. Boot camps try to make young people think differently about their responsibility to their communities.

5. Boot camps have helped some young offenders

6. There are not enough jail cells in the United States

7. There is hard evidence that boot camps reduce recidivism and that teenagers who go to boot camp do not commit more crimes.

8. Some people like watching young offenders do push-ups.

9. Politicians and corrections officials agree on the effectiveness of boot camps.

Part Two:

1. Evaluations of boot camps are under way in several states.

2. We have enough conclusive evidence about boot camps right now.

3. Some people think that boot camps may teach young offenders to be more effective criminals.

4. Deterring people by using extreme discipline is a good idea.

5. People commit crimes because they don’t care about others.

6. Many young offenders are also drug dependents