CBS 4 BOOT CAMP MIAMI

Summary

CBS4 News investigates Florida's last remaining boot camp for juvenile offenders, offering a second chance to carjackers, burglars, and armed robbers. The program's rigorous discipline aims to reduce recidivism, with only 11% re-arrested within a year. Emotional stories of cadets like Jennifer Flores and Justin Martinez highlight the struggle and potential for rehabilitation amidst the harsh realities of crime and punishment.

Takeaways

• 🏢 The last remaining boot camp in Florida is a rehabilitation program for young offenders, including carjackers, burglars, and armed robbers.
• 🕗 The program begins at 4:00 a.m. with a rigorous schedule designed to instill discipline and teach consequences for actions.
• 👮‍♂️ Cadets face a verbal campaign of shock and awe upon arrival, intended to test their limits and prepare them for the challenges ahead.
• 🎓 The boot camp offers an alternative to prison, with the opportunity to complete the program and avoid incarceration.
• 🔢 Only 11% of boot camp graduates are rearrested within a year, a significantly lower recidivism rate compared to the state prison system.
• 👨‍👧‍👦 Many cadets come from difficult backgrounds, with some being homeless or having failed to finish high school.
• 🔄 The boot camp focuses on discipline and self-control, aiming to rebuild the cadets' character and prepare them for reintegration into society.
• 🏥 The program also includes education and job training components, with the goal of equipping cadets with the skills needed to succeed after graduation.
• 🚫 The boot camp has faced controversy due to physical punishments and the death of a cadet, leading to the closure of other similar programs in the state.
• 💼 Success stories from the program include cadets who have gone on to complete their education and find stable employment, demonstrating the potential for rehabilitation.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the special edition of CBS4 News?

The main focus is on rehabilitation, specifically exploring the last remaining boot camp in Florida and its effectiveness in rehabilitating young offenders.

What is the boot camp program's success rate in terms of rearrest within a year for its graduates?

Only 11% of the boot camp graduates are rearrested within a year.

What is the age range of the cadets featured in the CBS4 News report?

The cadets in the report range in age from 16 to 24 years old.

What types of crimes are the cadets in the boot camp program guilty of?

The cadets are guilty of various crimes including carjacking, burglary, armed robbery, and aggravated battery.

What is the significance of the 11% rearrest rate within a year for the boot camp graduates?

The 11% rearrest rate is significant as it is substantially lower than the 27% recidivism rate in prison, indicating the program's effectiveness in rehabilitation.

How does the boot camp program differ from traditional prison sentences?

The boot camp program focuses on discipline, self-control, and teaching consequences for actions, with the aim of rehabilitating the participants, unlike traditional prison sentences which are punitive.

What is the role of drill instructors in the boot camp program?

Drill instructors in the boot camp program are responsible for teaching discipline, self-control, and the importance of following orders, often using physical exercises and verbal commands to instill these values.

What are the potential consequences for cadets who fail to complete the boot camp program?

If a cadet fails to complete the boot camp program, they may have to serve the remainder of their prison sentence in state prison.

What support does the boot camp program offer to help prevent recidivism?

The boot camp program offers education, including GED classes and job training, to help participants reintegrate into society and reduce the likelihood of reoffending.

How does the boot camp program impact the perception of the cadets towards their families and responsibilities?

The program helps the cadets realize the importance of family and taking responsibility for their actions, with some expressing a desire to be better parents and children upon completion.

What was the outcome for the cadets mentioned in the CBS4 News report after their time in the boot camp?

The report highlights that some cadets, like Justin Martinez and Jennifer Flores, successfully graduated from the program and were reunited with their families, while others, like Mark Andino, did not complete the program and faced further prison time.

Outlines

00:00

🛡️ Introduction to Florida's Last Boot Camp

The segment introduces a CBS4 News special edition focusing on rehabilitation within the criminal justice system, specifically the last remaining boot camp in Florida. The program offers a chance for young offenders, including carjackers, burglars, and armed robbers, to avoid prison by completing a rigorous training. The news team follows a class of 38 cadets, aged 16 to 24, as they endure the intense discipline and physical challenges of the boot camp. The program's goal is to reduce recidivism, with only 11% of graduates being rearrested within a year. The narrative features cadets like Jennifer Flores, who discusses her crime and the program's impact on her life.

05:01

🏛️ The Boot Camp's Impact and Challenges

This paragraph delves into the rehabilitative nature of the boot camp, contrasting it with traditional prison sentences. The program's effectiveness is discussed through the lens of Judge Nan Safy, who oversees serious offenses and believes in the camp's potential to transform lives. The narrative highlights the boot camp's methods, including instilling discipline and teaching consequences for actions. It also touches on the program's history, the public's skepticism, and the tragic death of a young cadet, Martin Lee Anderson, which led to the closure of other boot camps in the state. The financial and social implications of the program are also considered, with boot camp being a more expensive but potentially more effective alternative to prison.

10:02

🚨 Struggles and Setbacks in the Boot Camp

The focus shifts to the personal stories of cadets, including their struggles with the boot camp's demands and the impact on their lives. Lieutenant Rose Green, the camp's commander, discusses the slow progress of the cadets and the importance of their success. The narrative includes the story of a cadet who was shot after completing the program, emphasizing the challenges of reintegrating into society. Justin Martinez, another cadet, shares his desire to be a better father and person, while 16-year-old Christian Or Rojo grapples with the responsibility of fatherhood and the absence of his own. The boot camp's intense environment is portrayed, with drill instructors pushing cadets to their limits and the emotional toll it takes on them.

15:03

🏅 Success Stories and the Road to Redemption

This segment showcases the transformative power of the boot camp through the story of Jason Bravo, a former cadet who turned his life around after completing the program. Bravo's journey from a life of crime to becoming a successful lawyer is highlighted, emphasizing the boot camp's role in his rehabilitation. The narrative also follows current cadets as they approach graduation, with personal reflections on their growth and the challenges they've overcome. The emotional reunions of cadets with their families during the graduation ceremony underscore the program's human impact and the hope for a better future.

20:05

🎓 Graduation and the Path Forward

The final paragraph culminates in the graduation ceremony of platoon 141, where cadets receive their boot camp diplomas. The ceremony is a mix of emotions, with pledges, prayers, and speeches marking the cadets' achievements. Personal stories, such as Justin Martinez being named the platoon leader and Jennifer Flores overcoming her struggles, are highlighted. The narrative concludes with the cadets being reunited with their families, offering a glimpse into their future as they prepare to re-enter society, find jobs, and continue their education under supervision. The segment ends with an update on the cadets' progress, emphasizing the program's lasting impact on their lives.

Keywords

💡Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation refers to the process of helping individuals with difficulties, such as criminal behavior or addiction, to return to a functional and constructive place in society. In the video's context, it focuses on the boot camp program's efforts to reform young offenders. The script mentions rehabilitation as a possibility and explores whether the boot camp can truly rehabilitate its participants, as seen with the various cadets' experiences and transformations.

💡Boot Camp

A boot camp, in this context, is a rigorous and intensive program designed to instill discipline and provide a structured environment for individuals, particularly those involved in criminal activities. The video documents the last remaining boot camp in Florida, highlighting the harsh conditions and strict discipline intended to push cadets towards self-improvement and away from a life of crime.

💡Recidivism

Recidivism is the tendency of a convicted criminal to reoffend. The script discusses the boot camp's success rate, with only 11% of graduates being rearrested within a year, compared to a 27% recidivism rate in prison. This term is crucial as it measures the effectiveness of the boot camp in preventing future criminal behavior among its graduates.

💡Cadets

Cadets, in the context of the video, are the young offenders participating in the boot camp program. The script follows a class of cadets, ranging from carjackers to armed robbers, each with their own story and challenges. The term is used to describe the individuals undergoing rehabilitation, emphasizing their role as both students and offenders.

💡Discipline

Discipline is a key theme in the video, referring to the strict adherence to rules and regulations within the boot camp. It is highlighted through the drill instructors' methods, which are designed to teach cadets self-control and the consequences of their actions. The script illustrates this with examples such as how to stand, sit, and even pray correctly.

💡Consequences

Consequences are the outcomes or results of actions, which the boot camp aims to impress upon its cadets. The script mentions that no matter how small the mistake, there are always consequences, which is a critical lesson for the cadets to learn. This concept is integral to the program's approach to teaching responsibility and accountability.

💡GED

GED stands for General Educational Development, a test that provides an alternative to a high school diploma. The script notes that boot camp requires cadets to attend classes, with many working towards obtaining their GED. This reflects the program's focus on education as a means of rehabilitation and providing cadets with tools for a better future.

💡Drill Instructors

Drill instructors are the authoritative figures in charge of training the cadets in the boot camp. The script portrays them as strict but ultimately invested in the success of the cadets. They are shown using tough love and discipline to push the cadets towards improvement, illustrating their role as both taskmasters and mentors.

💡Self-Control

Self-control is the ability to manage one's emotions and actions, a trait that many of the cadets in the script lack. The boot camp aims to instill self-control as a means of preventing future criminal behavior. The video shows how some cadets struggle with this concept, such as Christian or Rojo, who was arrested for aggravated battery.

💡Recidivism Rate

The recidivism rate is a statistic that measures the percentage of released offenders who return to criminal behavior within a certain period. In the script, the lower recidivism rate of the boot camp (11%) compared to prison (27%) is used to argue for the program's effectiveness in reducing reoffending and thus its value in rehabilitation.

💡Graduation

Graduation in the video signifies the successful completion of the boot camp program. It is a pivotal moment for the cadets, marking their transition from the structured environment of the boot camp to the outside world. The script describes the emotional graduation ceremony, where family members reunite with the cadets, symbolizing hope for their future.

Highlights

CBS4 News investigates the last remaining boot camp in Florida for rehabilitation of young offenders.

11% rearrest rate within a year for boot camp graduates, significantly lower than the national average.

The boot camp challenges cadets with a rigorous program designed to instill discipline and self-control.

Cadets range from 16 to 24 years old, facing sentences of up to 15 years in prison if they fail the program.

Judges offer the boot camp as a last chance for redemption, aiming to rehabilitate rather than punish.

Cadet Jennifer Flores shares her story of carjacking under the influence of drugs.

The youngest cadet, Christian or Rojo, was arrested for aggravated battery at 15, reflecting the camp's diverse cases.

Half of the class failed to finish high school, and six were homeless, indicating the socioeconomic challenges faced.

Sergeant William Das emphasizes the program's focus on building discipline and the consequences of actions.

Judge Nan Safy discusses the program's goal to create functioning members of society rather than hardened criminals.

The program's annual budget of $3.5 million faces scrutiny, with debates on its cost-effectiveness compared to prison.

Cadets are required to attend classes and work towards a GED or job training, preparing them for life after the program.

Justin Martinez, a former gang member, aims to turn his life around to be a better father to his children.

Cadet struggles are highlighted as they deal with the loss of a friend and the pressure to succeed.

Former Cadet Jason Bravo shares his success story, now a practicing lawyer after completing the boot camp.

Graduation marks a significant milestone for the cadets, symbolizing their progress and potential for a better future.

Post-boot camp, cadets return home to work and study, still under supervision for a year.

Transcripts

good evening and welcome to a special

edition of cbs4 news I'm investigator

Jim daiti in local news we spent a lot

of time talking about crime and

occasionally punishment but tonight

we're going to go in depth and talk

about Rehabilitation is it possible over

the next 30 minutes we are going to take

you inside the last remaining boot camp

in the State of Florida cbs4 news spent

four months following one class of

cadets a collect of carjackers and

burglars and armed robbers some will

Embrace this last chance others will not

for those who graduate only 11% will be

rearrested within a year but that's a

long way away for now they just have to

survive day

one that

go it's 4:00 a.m. and the first class of

2014 has arrived at the Miami day County

boot

camp move you going say something

understand that sir

understand

what there are 38 Cadets on the bus

ranging in age from 16 to 24 we going to

do it my way are we going to do it my

way there ain't no other way understand

that sir yes sir they have all put

guilty to a myriad of crimes and fac

sentences of up to 15 years in prison

let's go let's go let's go hurry up get

off the bus but the judges who sentenced

them offered them one last reprieve

complete the boot camp program and they

won't have to go to

prison I can't hear you I can't hear

you from the moment they arrive the

cadetes are subjected to a verbal

campaign of shock and awe designed to

test their

limits fre here everyone is treated the

same whether they look hard and

StreetWise or scared and in

f f f i can't see you f I can't hear you

my name is Jennifer I'm 18 years old I'm

in here for carjacking aggravated OFA FS

imprisonment and burgies Jennifer Flores

was 17 when she and her friend forced

their way into a stranger's car let's go

I was a my best friend which is a girl

and we were just messed up on drugs and

just wanted to take somebody's car we

got in his car and I grabbed him by the

back of his head and my codend started

just beating on him let's go today today

as a light rain falls the youngest Cadet

in the class appears

Overwhelmed Christian or Rojo was 15

when he was arrested for aggravated

battery after getting into a fight at a

party leaving the victim in a coma for 3

months and you hit him because cuz I was

drunk and he looked at me in the wrong

way the lack of self-control is a common

trait among the cadets half the class

failed to finish High School six of the

cadets were homeless and living on the

streets the key in boot camp is

discipline and the realization that

there are consequences for screwing up

no matter how small the screw up might

be

all right sir my name is Justin Martinez

I'm 22 and I was born and raised in

Colorado

Springs boot camp was designed for those

at are Crossroads and few fit that

description better than Martinez

Martinez's father spent most of Justin's

childhood in prison and Justin was well

on his way down that path as well his

father was the notorious street gang pyu

in Colorado after his mother moved into

Florida Martinez joined the homestead

gang nine try the gang tattoos evident

on his arms last year he was arrested

for a series of burglaries in which he

stole a gun why' you why'd you take a

gun it's easy to sell at the time I was

in my own apartment and I was short on

rent he said what haunt him is knowing

how much he hurt his mother a son always

knows his mother's pain look she gave me

she look she gave me when she came and

saw me the last time I knew she was

hurting because she couldn't look me in

my eyes so I know I put a lot of pain on

her test it's been 19 months since he

last saw his mother she told me the last

thing she said was to keep my head on

straight and she wrote me a letter the

other day that said to keep my head

forward because I have a hot head she

knows I have bu welcome to freaking

Miami g county freaking boot camp

Sergeant William Das helped launch the

County's boot camp program back in

1995 since then more than a thousand

Cadets have completed the program the

program is here for you it's not for us

all we want is your freaking best do you

understand me sir yes sir I'm a big fan

of boot camp tell me why um in part

because I think it's it's it is probably

the only program we have that is

rehabilitative in nature for adults

first of all for young adults it is it's

the only program we have that's not

prison Miami D circuit court judge Nan

safy oversees the Criminal Division of

the courthouse and knows she isn't

sending choir boys into the program some

of these folks have been convicted of

some really bad things I mean I would

say by and large it's pretty serious

offenses I would say most of the people

that I have sent to Camp were pretty

serious offenses you know there's a lot

of I mean you know the general sentiment

in the public if you ask the public you

know what should happen to somebody who

commits an armed robbery or a carjacking

or any of these things they say throw

them away throw them in prison I think

that that's people's initial reaction

but what I would tell you is that I've

had many cases where um I thought it was

my responsibility to make sure that the

people involved in the case knew what I

was about to do so the prosecutors would

bring the victims on these cases into

court and I did that on multiple

occasions and the one person that

disagreed with me said to me judge safy

I don't agree with you but I agree with

what you're trying to do so um what is

it that we're trying to do we're trying

to

ultimately create a a person that's

going to be a functioning member of

society and not create a person who's

going to come out of prison and be a

bigger batter better Criminal according

to judge safy for many of these young

criminals boot camp may be their last

opportunity to learn right from wrong

what they tell you in boot camp is that

they basically strip the kid down to

they strip the person down to to Bare

Bones and they build them back up and

they're they're part of a team they're

part of a

platoon and they're definitely taught

consequences which I think is huge

they're they're taught to really believe

in themselves and all it is is about

giving the kid a chance ultimately if

the if the cadet fails prison is waiting

prison the bus is waiting their Prison

number is waiting from the moment they

arrive they are told there is a right

way to do something and a wrong way they

teach them how to stand how to feet how

to hold their canteens they teach them

how to sit I'm not taking my littley

time I'm not do I'm not taking my time

all to se dirty whatever I'm sitting

down like a rock you understand they

even show them the right way to lower

their head in prayer ready ready ready

PR and if they mess up they'll all be

smoked smoking them is when they have

done something incorrectly and we get

them to do whatever the excise exercises

that we as them to do if you move and I

don't give you permission you will pay I

if he messes up you will all pay I if he

doesn't sound off you will all PID out

of the corner of her eye she catches one

of the cadetes scratching his face when

I tell you stop freaking moving stop

moving but using exercise's punishment

has proved dangerous let's go let's go

get it going let's

go in 2006 14-year-old Martin Lee

Anderson died in a City Boot Camp

Anderson who suffered from asthma was

unable to run as guards ordered videos

showed the guards punishing him by

taking him to the ground and forcing him

to breathe in ammonia the public outcry

marked a turning point for boot camps as

a result the legislature closed all five

of its camps across the state and in

2007 the Broward Sheriff closed its boot

camp program to save money miam me D's

program is the last in the state and

with an annual budget of $3.5 million it

too faces a carious future mayor Carl s

menz proposed closing the program this

year to save tax dollars but came up

with the money under pressure at the

last minute to save it for now boot

camps are an inherent gamble the safe

bet would be to send these offenders to

State Prison where cost just

$47.50 a day to house and feed them but

this is a long-term bet you might even

call it an investment an investment in

all our names take Justin Martinez a

5-year prison term would cost tax payers

$86,900 the 16-month boot camp just

46,4 53 more important than the money

though is the hope that the program will

keep Cadets from committing new offenses

the recidivism rate in prison is 27%

within the boot camp it's just 11% in

boot camp they are required to attend

classes and most war in a GED while here

those who already have a high school

diploma receive job training hey

but the cadets of platoon 14-1 are still

a long way from success when we come

back which Cadets will make it and who

will wash

[Music]

out two weeks into boot camp and the

cadets of class 141 are proving to be

more difficult than the instructors had

hoped

every time she act crazy you going to

pay for it talking to you little mama

the drill instructors have them so

rattled one Cadet keeps referring to his

male drill instructor as a woman all

right man you call me a man you got be

at your freaking you ever call me a

again we going have a problem you

understand me you understand me you hear

me get your

eyeb p p p p p get your M and your s

together you fig it out the boot Camp's

Commander is Lieutenant Rose green I've

watched the progression it's very slow

at this point and I I still see that

they're very raw on this day in January

there was a stark reminder of what's at

stake and why getting them to succeed is

so important to De M St Flo green had

just learned a Cadet who completed the

program in December was shot and killed

in front of his house Mackenzie St FL um

17 years old we released him December

19th I believe he went back to the same

home that he came from so if that's the

case he he went back to the very streets

that he came from unfortunately well

there there not a lot of options

sometimes they have to go back to a lot

of times they have to go back to the

same streets don't they absolutely

absolutely and that's why we try to

fortified them St FL had passed his GED

exam while at the boot camp but he never

received the actual diploma the

certificate didn't arrive from

Tallahassee until the day of his funeral

Justin Martinez is hoping for a

different fate I want to know how to be

a father for one I have a son that's one

and my daughter's three the most

important thing he said he can do is

provide a better example for his kids as

they grow up I never knew how to work

for anything and if I when I did work I

never appreciate working I could have

gave back to my mother and my kids but

instead I spent it on myself 16-year-old

or Rojo is already the father of a boy

and a girl and Flora is a three-year-old

son I had him when I was 15 she hasn't

seen her son in 8 months my mom told him

that mommy's way for being mad that Mom

mom is a Time M so when I talk to him he

tells me to behave

good

and and I get pictures of him too I have

pictures of him

and I just I feel so bad for not being

there for him right

now like it's crazy I had to go through

all this to

realize how important

family

is oh I'm

[Music]

sorry since the start of boot camp one

frequent Target for the drill

instructors was a familiar

face Mark Andino is what is known as a

recycle he was in the program last year

but ran into trouble and quit he then

pleaded to the judge to let him try

again now he's back and the drill

instructors are all over I know how you

that you me son the charge that landed

him here in boot camp armed robbery my

girlfriend was pregnant I was under a

lot of pressure and I made a stupid

decision and I robbed a jewelry store

anything you think I don't remember

you I'm talking to

you you know what son you better get new

this your second time around right you

need to get right you understand me

don't be a freaking statistic do you

understand me nearly two months have now

passed and the cadets are starting to

show some signs of improvement they seem

to be getting it for me to be able to

contain my anger and contain my

self-control in this place as long as

I've did shows a lot about what these

people do here and you know they talk to

us yeah they yell at us but nobody sees

the the behind the scenes act when they

talk to us and give us words of

encouragement for some the drill

instructors transition from guards to

the parents they never had they they

beat on us but I realized the difference

between picking on me and trying to help

me one person who failed to make that

connection was Andino the cadet had

finally run out of Second

Chances Mr adino um refuse you honor to

comply with the instructions

and orders for the program not even

halfway through the program Andino has

had enough after refusing orders and

threatening staff the drill instructors

decided it was time for him to get on

that bus for state prison on this day

they were updating the judge that

granted him boot camp your client is

potentially facing some very serious

consequences flunking out of boot camp

many he would have to serve the

remainder of a six-year sentence in

state prison we caught up to him a

couple weeks later inside the jail where

he was waiting to be transferred to

State custody once you got out of boot

camp and once they brought you here yeah

I felt stupid you realiz you

made I felt stupid because you know I

know what I traded out I traded out some

months for some

years and Dino said he couldn't handle

being disrespected by the drill

instructors and forced to endure some of

the physical punishments like crawling

through the

pit go at the moment is like my mind's

just I want to escape I want to get out

of here I want to get out of here I want

to get out of here and when I had the

time to sit there and I'm they brought

me back to the jail and I had the time

to sit there and really think about it I

felt stupid cuz I you

know I gave it all up I gave my freedom

up I I let a lot of people

down you know what I mean for just for

[Music]

nothing if Andino represents the failure

of the boot camp system former Cadet

Jason Bravo is one of the Seasons the

instructors have hope if I wanted to do

something I'd just do it and and looking

back on it all I did was everything I

did was self-destructive few people

understand where these Cadets are coming

from better than Jason bravo bravo was

17 when he was arrested for armed

robbery and assault he was facing a

15-year prison sentence when the judge

offered him a chance at boot camp that

was in

1998 this was my b top uh bottom bottom

this was my bunk right here I left the

line up this this is where uh we'd eat

Chow three times a day

um lot of lot of good memories here are

there really yeah I mean looking back at

it it it was only for the best at least

for me and and like I said I made uh

real friends here with the officers

particularly they they took a vested

interest in those who really took their

recovery seriously it's a discipline

right it's that idea of of you got to do

what you got to do it's it's it's more

than that it's the discipline but it's

also a level of respect that you earn

from them and then once they get once

you earn that respect they treat you

like a human being and then you

understand why they're doing it then you

see that their motives and their

intentions are are good and it only then

you worry about disappointing them or

you want to uh earn their approval the

jural instructors not only helped him

get through the program but the staff

wrote letters of recommendation to get

him into college and then law school

after Bravo passed his bar exam in 2008

the Florida bar held up his license

because of his prior felony arrest but

once again it was the drill instructors

who came through vouching for his

character now at 33 he's been practicing

law for 4 years and he's paying it back

by talking to the cadets there's nothing

that I accomplished before my life I

accomplished nothing before I came to

boot camp probably the first thing that

I did in my life that was worth

mentioning in a positive way was

graduating from boot camp the when we

return the big day for these Cadets has

finally

[Music]

[Music]

arrived by may just three boot camp

Cadets from Platoon 141 had washed out

of phase one that left 35 headed toward

graduation hours before the ceremony

Justin Martinez's thoughts turned to his

family yeah I'm hoping that that that

the the accomplishment that I may here

proves myself worthy to them prove

myself worthy to them and myself because

um that's my main goal trying to trying

to please myself but also show my family

that I am something other than what they

always lab me as a nobody his drill

instructors say he's made an amazing

turnaround during the 4 months he's been

in boot camp everyone thinks it's easy

while you're in here because they're on

you they're yelling at you they're

telling you what to do the question is 6

n months from now when you're out of

here yeah what's going to be different

that's the test this right here like you

said is the easy part you got somebody

always over your head it's it's it's not

so difficult to fight temptation but

when you get in the streets you have

nobody to to stop that Temptation from

hitting you and if you don't have the

the quality of that they teach you here

and you keep it up when you're on the

outside you going to fall regardless

Jennifer Flores had a harder time in

boot camp she admits she didn't think

she would make it to graduation when you

come here they put you down and you just

feel like you ain't going to be able to

do it it's so hard but it's like now

it's the end like you finally see the

light a week earlier one of flores's

best friends 19-year-old Viva karea was

shot to death standing in front of a

house in Little Havana I know she wasn't

around guns or anything like that cuz

she's not that type but I know she was

around with guys that probably had guns

after learning about the shooting Flora

started acting out refusing orders

rather than coddling her because her

friend had died the instructors went at

Flores harder telling her everyone has

to deal with horrible events on the

outside the world isn't fair but that

doesn't give them permission to screw up

it happened to her but it could have

been

me as platoon 14-1 marches onto the

field friends and family members trained

to get a look it's the first time in

months they've seen their loved ones and

the ceremony lasts an hour with pledges

and prayers and speeches and then one at

a time they're called forward to receive

their boot camp diplomas Christian aru

sir Jennifer

Flores Justin Martinez Martinez has

excelled in the boot camp and was named

the platoon's leader boot camp has

restored our confidence and our will to

fight for what we believe in but all of

it is Prelude to that moment when their

finally

[Applause]

[Applause]

dismissed across the yard the tearful

scene is repeated

Christian is reunited with his two

children as well as his mom his name is

Conor he's 5 months that's Christopher

he's 2 years old I'm proud of him and

and I thank God because I see him and he

changed a lot a short distance away

Justin is with the women in his life his

baby girl his mother and his grandmother

he's happy he's at peace with himself I

can tell he's at peace and I'm happy

about that before he went into this

where was he heading down a dark road

down a dark Road the next phase will

begin the process of finding jobs and

entering the work release phase of the

program but for now the five minutes

they're given to see and hold family

members is enough to keep them going the

drill instructor counts down the final

16 14 13

[Music]

11 you bye

seven 6

5

4 and with that they're gone and for

some they can begin imagining their

future

to the

rare third to the

rare to the rear third spot to the r two

months after this ceremony the cadets

were allowed to return home and begin

working and going to school again they

will remain under supervision for

another year and if they stay out of

trouble their court cases will be closed

now we finish tonight with an update on

how some of the cadets are doing thanks

for watching I'm Jim

cbs4 news in depth

[Music]