A Feminist Examination of Boot Camp Prison Programs for Women

Is juvenile boot camp policy effective?

“…One of the main goals of the policy was to be an effective solution on recidivism; however, the policy seems to be failed preventing recidivism. Second, findings indicate that current implementations of boot camps are punitive not rehabilitative even though the policy is expected to rehabilitate the young offenders (Marcus-Mendoza et al, 1998). The military approach, indeed, does not seem to be promising in rehabilitating offenders since many psychological and sociological problems arise among the members of military.…”

“…The purposes of juvenile boot camps is to rehabilitate young offenders, but current programs are punitive rather that treatment oriented (Marcus-Mendoza et al, 1998). …”

VI. Decontexualizing Female Criminality: Treating Abused Women in Prison in the United States

“…Feminist scholars assert that prison often promotes relational disconnection and violation, producing a microcosm of patriarchal society inside prison walls and recreating dynamics similar to those experienced during prisoners' violent past. This creates further challenges for feminist therapists (Covington, 1998;Marcus-Mendoza et al, 1998) who may be positioned in two conflicting but co-existing roles. For instance, in correctional boot camps, the same staff member may be drilling and inspecting a woman one minute and in the next minute be in the role of therapist with the same woman.…”

“…For instance, in correctional boot camps, the same staff member may be drilling and inspecting a woman one minute and in the next minute be in the role of therapist with the same woman. This creates the same confusing and traumatic dynamic as that which occurred in a past 'intimate' and abusive relationship (incest, battering, date rape) and can thus be similarly traumatizing (Marcus-Mendoza et al, 1998). Therefore, prison interventions must often address traumatic issues in a traumatic environment.…”

Feminist Therapy with Incarcerated Women: Practicing Subversion in Prison

“…We need to work towards a fully feminist paradigm of corrections, one that empowers incarcerated women and transforms women's correctional facilities into rehabilitative environments. Literature has emerged looking at how feminist principles can be applied behind bars, and has presented some of the challenges of doing so (Bruns & Lesko, 1999;Marcus-Mendoza, 2004;Marcus-Mendoza, Klein-Saffran, and Lutze, 1998). However, this has not translated into wide-spread reform, and the depth and extent to which feminist therapists and activists can help create change in the lives of incarcerated women has yet to be fully explored or translated into action.…”