MAC Camps about having a “bob each way”

The ‘MAC’ (Military Activity) Camp is an attempt to have a “bob each way”, by combining a military regime, with a therapeutic response and greater attention to offender after care, says Kim Workman, Director of Rethinking Crime and Punishment.

“This is not a new approach. Known in the US and the UK as “second generation boot camps”, literacy and numeracy programmes, vocational skills, mentoring and after care were added to the military components to provide comparable structure and discipline. Others added therapeutic components such as drug and alcohol treatment programs and behavioural therapy. “

“The problem in the past has been that the inevitable focus on a top-down, militaristic regime, is in direct opposition to the type of relationships and supportive conditions that are needed for quality therapeutic programs. The confrontational nature of boot camps works against the environment necessary to bring about behavioural change.”

“It may be that the MAC Camps have highly trained staff, with the skills to implement behavioural change in New Zealand’s “1000 most serious young offenders” – to quote the Prime Minister. If they haven’t, those offenders that have suffered a lifetime of abuse, are likely to respond with extreme stress or helplessness. The programme could become a battleground between punishment and rehabilitation. The prison experience tells us that punishment is inevitably the winner.”

“The government failed miserably with Corrective Training – a three month programme which had similar ideals. Introduced in 1960, more than 90% of young offenders had reoffended within 12 months of completing the programme. We knew that by 1970, but politicians had so committed themselves to the programme, they refused to close it down – it took another 20 years before that happened. The MAC Camp needs to be closely evaluated and shut down if it is shown not to be working.”

ENDS

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