Researchers carried out relevant literature reviews, interviewed federal officials with responsibility for prison policy and administration, and visited boot camps in Florida and Georgia. They also compared the records of those sentenced to federal prisons during fiscal year 1986 to criteria developed by seven states for admitting state offenders to boot camps. Since most states have been operating boot camp prisons for a relatively short time, the study concludes that it is too early to tell whether the boot camp approach to incarceration will reduce prison overcrowding, costs, and recidivism. Additionally, those federal officials interviewed for the report indicated that the federal government has not yet endorsed boot camp programs for federal prisoners, but several ongoing or planned federal studies and evaluations should provide information for making policy decisions.