Extreme Brat Camp - ch4 now

[PourquoiTuGachesTaVie]

Some of these children are far too young to be in a place like this. They have FIVE year olds there. Wtf?

[BertieBotts]

Probably not Canada or Aus/NZ either.

[Aeroflotgirl]

It's child abuse, emotionally and physically. These tactics should be employed in prison not on young children!

[Aeroflotgirl]

How do you know that these organisations are properly checked. There are websites for survivors of these boot camps, some have PTSD and other mental health issues as a result of this.

[BarbarianMum]

Aeroflot they tried that - Borstal, short sharp shock, Diary of a Long-Distance Runner.

It didn't work there either.

[Aeroflotgirl]

If they need it more than once, it's not working is it! Mabey the parents are not following through.

[Aeroflotgirl]

In adult prison or YOI

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

The "extraction teams" are terrifying

America is one fucked up country. How could anyone think this is a good idea?

[Aeroflotgirl]

It is this would not be allowed here!

[hellsbellsmelons]

I tried to watch it as well.
Got through the first bit and had to go to bed.
It was horrible to watch.
That poor poor boy that just couldn't stop crying. I just wanted to give him a hug.
It was just vile!

[Hatespiders]

But even in prison such things are indefensible. Treating human beings like that never does a bit of good. It alienates them and makes them hard, uncaring, desocialised and even dangerous. There are many ways of addressing bad behaviour in children and adults that don't involve cruelty.

What made me even angrier was the evil bastard proudly boasting about the accolades he's received from important figures in public life. He honestly saw himself as a great hero. Complete egoist. He was easily the most odious scumbag I've ever seen on TV.

I'm wondering why these boot camps are condoned and recommended in the States? As mentioned above, no other country/continent would accept this for a second. My husband said if this was done in Ivory Coast, parents would attack 'that bad man' and probably seriously hurt him! He literally had tears running down his face in horror.

[Nancy66]

I haven't watched it but did record it.

Sounds horrific. Does religion play a part by any chance?

[Aeroflotgirl]

I still agree prison should be tough like that, if you don't want time don't do crime. but nit using those techniques on children, it horrifying.

[BarbarianMum]

Not specifically, although I'm sure the whole 'spare the rod, spoil the child' type evangalism that permeates America is one of the reasons why these things are allowed to happen there.

[BertieBotts]

YY it's a religious authority behaviour model. Submit or you will be punished. Sins can be "wiped out" by harsh punishment (but again only if you totally submit) etc. Totally totally bonkers and misguided, it doesn't even work. Children die because of this kind of thinking.

I read a horrendous article a while back about fundamentalist "quiverfull" families who adopt children from abroad, these children are often traumatised both by being ripped from their home country/culture into this very alien American culture, sometimes from spending their early years in orphanages with very poor knowledge of child development and good practice, sometimes from witnessing atrocities, and of course the totally normal and still very difficult to manage trauma of even a well managed adoption system. The families think that they are doing a good thing and "rescuing" the children, and expect to be rewarded with obedience and affection. Of course, those two things are the last thing that a traumatised child can offer. Total and utter tragedy for all concerned.

I haven't watched the programme, it sounds horrible, but I'm familiar with the mindset and can imagine.

[BertieBotts]

Oh it is totally bound up in religion! They don't have to be bible bashing in order for it to be related. And most Christians I know would be horrified at this sort of treatment of children. It's everything to do with religious fear and control, not love and acceptance.

[BertieBotts]

No, prison should not be like this either. America has a massive prison problem and attitudes like this are a huge part of the reason.

[Aeroflotgirl]

Our prisons are not good either!

[Aeroflotgirl]

I think a more military model should be used in prisons rather like the Army!

[BarbarianMum]

Can I ask why (genuine question)? Is it because you think prison should be more of a punishment and a military model would provide this, or because you think it should rehabilitate and this is a good way to achieve this?

Personally, I don't like the way our prisons are run now either.

[chockbic]

It was revealing how the parents didn't look to themselves for the answers. Instead putting all of the blame onto their kids. Hmmm.

[Nancy66]

they tried that in this country before - 'the short, sharp shock' technique for young offenders. didn't work.

[Aeroflotgirl]

Yes barbarian of course it should be punitive, teaching discipline and tough.

[BertieBotts]

It doesn't work though. Most people commit crimes because they're more scared of whatever would come from not committing the crime than they are of the chance of getting caught and going to prison. Hence it's not a deterrent. That doesn't change no matter how brutal prison is, so it's not working.

Prison should be rehabilitative and/or prevent further damage by keeping offenders away from their (and other potential) victims.

TBH, I don't know of anywhere in the world with a good prison system. Probably because this problem is so impossible to find a good solution to! Rehabilitating young offenders/breaking cycles of abuse and crime so that children are less likely to grow up to go to prison seems the most sensible thing to do to me. (Not bonkers "brat camps" but actually listening and helping from an earlier age)

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

TBH, I don't know of anywhere in the world with a good prison system.

Bastoey in Norway 16% reoffending - pretty good?

[Purpleflamingos]

I watched it. It was extreme and horrifying and I can only hope the show shows enough of the egotists running these places to open the eyes of American social services and some kind of universal regulation, age limits, and codes of care are at least put in place.

That mum of the 15year old gamer?!?! Why not just take the Xbox away?