United States Department of Justice

The United States Department of Justice is cited in the book’s discussion of treatment choices for young people with drug problems. Its relevance is specific: a 1998 investigation in Georgia is presented as evidence against treating paramilitary boot camps as a reliable or safe response to troubled teenagers.

Investigation of Boot Camps

The account places the Department’s investigation within a broader review of boot camps, which some parents consider when they feel unable to manage a child’s problems. The investigation concluded that the paramilitary model was not only ineffective but harmful. The book uses this finding to challenge the assumption that military-style discipline is an appropriate substitute for treatment.

Role in the Book’s Argument

The investigation supports the narrator’s distinction between punitive programs and rehabilitation. He warns that intimidation and humiliation can deepen the problems underlying a young person’s conduct, and that coercive discipline may carry serious risks. The Department’s finding is one part of this argument, which favors seeking informed professional advice and recognizes that no treatment choice guarantees recovery.