A 1994 evaluation of shock incarceration programs in eight States in the United States revealed that boot camps did not reduce recidivism in comparison with similar offenders handled in other ways and that the State with the most militaristic regime had the highest recidivism rates. The research concluded that the military atmosphere did not appear to reduce recidivism. In Great Britain, the cost of planning, setting up, and operating a unit for civilian young offenders within the MCTC will be substantial. Such an action is a misuse of resources, particularly at a time when reductions in the unit costs of correctional establishments are leading to cuts in prison education and in programs to reduce recidivism. The best approach to prevent further crime among youthful offenders is to provide quality education, training, alcohol and drug treatment, and highly focused efforts to change attitudes toward crime. Wherever possible, these programs should be provided as part of community supervision programs. When custodial sentences are imposed on young offenders, these elements should form a central part of the program of juvenile correctional institutions. This approach is far more likely to reduce recidivism than are military routines and drills.