2. The Legislature finds that specialized rehabilitation programs which utilize proven military techniques of regimentation and structured discipline have been shown to develop positive attitudes and behavior traits in juvenile offenders; such programs foster self-control, self-respect, and dramatically improve a juvenile offender's potential for rehabilitation and re-integration into the community; and, by complementing that regimen and structure with education, vocational training, counseling, and aftercare services, such a program can significantly reduce recidivism among juvenile offenders.
The Legislature, therefore, declares that the counties of this State should be authorized to establish and maintain specialized rehabilitation programs for juvenile offenders; these specialized programs should be designed as short-term incarcerations during which the juvenile offender is exposed to a highly structured routine of discipline, intensive regimentation, exercise and work therapy, together with substance use disorder treatment, self-improvement counseling, and educational and vocational training; and following the term of incarceration, the program should provide a period of intensive aftercare supervision or mentoring for the juvenile offender.