The Battalion
LIFESTYLES
OOT CAM
A prison guard carefully watches over the inmates as theycto
a section of land on the Goree Prison Farm.
Goree Style
Photos and story by Phelan M. Ebenhack
F or young, first
time criminals, the
Texas Department of
Corrections has a home — the.
Goree Boot Camp, located
five miles south of Huntsville.
As prisoners can attest, it’s
definitely not a fun place to
live. The new and clean set
ting deceives new prisoners
about what lies ahead.
Initially built as a trustee
camp, the grounds were hast
ily changed to house the boot
camp under orders from State
District Judge Ted Poe of
Houston.
The judge had wanted to
sentence a prisoner to a boot
camp, but the state did not
have one. So Judge Poe or
dered the state to start one or
be held in contempt of court.
Thus, Senate Bill 245 was en
acted to give the Texas State
Department of Corrections au
thority to begin the program in
January 1988.
To comply with the order,
the Department of Corrections
quickly gave Capt. J.J. Pitze-
ruse, a retired U.S. Air Force
intelligence specialist, the re
sponsibility of organizing a
boot camp.
“They called me in on a
Wednesday, and told me to
form a camp by the next Mon
day,” Pitzeruse said.
Given control of the situa
tion, Pitzeruse quickly ' re
cruited 40 prison guards for
the Goree Boot Camp. No ex
tra money was given to him,
so Pitzeruse had to figure out
how to recruit experienced
guards for the new positions.
“I spent a $1.50’s worth of
cloth, and used them as lead
ership bands, I allowed them
to buy military style boots and
I let the platoon leaders buy
campaign hats,” Pitzeruse, the
camp director, said.
Not everyone is sent to the
boot camp. Prospective!
mates must first meet ceite
physical and mental reqc
ments.
They must be male, 1
years of age, be abletojs
form strenuous physical;
ity, and have no prior ipra:
ations in a penitential)
felony conviction.
Inmates assigned to the bo.
camp are, in effect, gi
second chance to stay
prison. The 90 daysof!)(i|
camp arc a way of reduci |
their regular sentences ii
serving probation for the it
mainder of the time.
However, if the inni
wash out of boot camp,'
will be sent back tothejiifc
The judge can then ree
the original sentence orii
the prisoner complete tl
inal sentence at a regular pet
tentiary.
After completing 75 day:
the boot camp, an evali
of each prisoner is sent!
judge who imposed these
tence. At this time, thejoJi
can suspend further ex
of the sentence and placet’
inmate on probation.
See Boot Campfe]
Sil
Above: Inmates must stand at attention before being allowed to eat.
Left: A prison guard calls out the cadence for inmates to follow. - i—..