D.R.I.L.L. Academy

Discipline, Respect, Integrity, Learning, Leadership. Closed in 2006, this was the boot camp for bad boys. Candidates would enter in groups of 15, and would stay for 6 months.

This was considered a level 6 program with the Department of Juvenile Justice. Most of the prisoners aka candidates, were felons, or habitual offenders. Candidates were all males, between the ages of 14 and 18.

At any given moment (besides the first 3 months that it opened, and the last 3 months before closing) there were 2 platoons attending. Candidates would enter as a junior platoon, the senior platoon has already been there for 3 months. Platoons were numbered in sequential number for that year. Every January (1-yr), April (2-yr) July (3-yr) and October (4-yr) a new platoon would enter.

The 6 month stay in DRILL is divided into 4 phases

Training Phase
During the first 2 weeks, your platoon is in training phase. This is the hardest phase, with the most discipline. Candidates have not earned any of their privileges to cloths, regardless of the activity, they can only wear 'tighty whitey' underwear, and a white undershirt. During this period, they are given a lesson in what is expected from them during their six month stay. Candidates will only 'learn' and not 'do' any of the regular scheduled activities such as school, marching, physical training, cleaning etc. During this time, all candidates must learn, word for word, the DRILL Academy Handbook. After training day 14, a phase 1 exam is scheduled by the academy's sargent, and is rescheduled every day until the platoon passes.

Phase 1
Phase one starts on day 14. At this time, candidates have earned a pair of green, cotton, gym shorts for P.T., and khaki dress slacks for school. They have earned their requirement to send a one page letter to a parent or guardian every Wednesday and Saturday. Candidates may receive mail from a parent or guardian. Once the platoon has reached Training Day 60, they are eligible for their phase 2 exam, performed by the academy's lieutenant, which is scheduled once per week until the platoon passes.

Phase 2
After the phase 2 exam has been passed, candidates have now earned a dress shirt for school, and the ability to make a 5 minute phone call, once a week, to a parent or guardian. They are also entitled to visitation rights, every other weekend, for one hour. Only 2 visitors are allowed, and each visitor must be a parent or legal guardian. Half way through phase 2, on training day 90, the senior platoon graduates (promoting the current platoon to seniors), and a new, junior platoon begins. On Training Day 120, candidates are eligible for their phase 3 exam, performed by the academy's commander. Upon failure, the candidates will be retested every 2 weeks.

Phase 3
Preparing for the outside world, the candidates have now earned the right to send letters to an approved list of family and friends, twice per week. They have also earned the right to have a third family member during visitation. During this phase, the candidates will be involved in many activities outside the facility, such as disaster cleanup, volunteer work, and occasional motivational speeches.

Upon completion of the 6 month program, all candidates are entered into a 6 month aftercare program. During its run, the DRILL Academy Aftercare Program was the strictest probation in the state. Candidates had a strict curfew of 7pm, unless working, or attending a church or school function. Any time a candidate leaves one dwelling for another, they must notify their aftercare officer via a complex pager code system. While on aftercare, the candidates are required to complete 50 hours of community service (NOT ROADSIDE CLEANUP), they must attend a closed A.A. session once per week, and they may not smoke (regardless of age), party, associate with criminals, or have a grade point average less than 2.0. Any violation of these rules is subject to a weekend stay at the DRILL Academy.

The DRILL Academy closed due to the high percentage of rearrest rates. According to the Naples Daily News, almost 100% of all candidates were arrested within 5 years of completing this program.