Implementation Evaluation of the First Incarceration Shock Treatment Program: A Boot Camp for Youthful Offenders in Kentucky

First Incarceration Shock Treatment (FIST) is a 127-day program offered to male and female inmates who have at least 4 months remaining to parole eligibility and a maximum sentence of 10 years. The program focuses on nonviolent offenders ages 17-29. The rigorous daily schedule includes physical training and conditioning, individualized academic programs, a 120-day drug treatment program, a living skills program, work details, community meetings, and military drill and ceremony. The analysis revealed that FIST successfully implemented a program that met the Bureau of Justice Assistance specifications and used a structured selection process. Many FIST inmates had background characteristics often associated with young people at risk, such as single-parent families, low incomes, drug abuse, and prior arrests. the program appeared to selected qualified professional staff and operated relatively smoothly. FIST does not operate a separate aftercare but releases inmates to the most intensive supervision available in their county of origin. Eighty-four percent of the inmates graduated and about 75 percent of the graduates received parole at the first post-FIST hearing. The program also appeared to stimulate short-term changes in inmate behavior and skills. Establishing a complementary aftercare program would make the program more comprehensive. Tables, figures, 24 references, and appended questionnaires