While that was not my post, I think I can answer some of your questions. Yes, a physical altercation, in other words a fight between kids, is a reason why someone might be restrained. The state of Pennsylvania considers it a form of abuse to allow kids to fight in placement. Failure to follow instruction is not a justification for a restraint. However, depending upon what the order was, it can be justification for an escort. This can lead to an aggressive response from a trooper, which is justification for a restraint (as far as policy and the law goes, I'm not making a value judgement on that personally). As far as whether teens are mature enough for boot camp and their reaction to it, I have to respectfully disagree with you. I was 17 when I went through boot camp (in the Army). I was able to succeed as are most kids who go through placement boot camps. Whether it's for the military or placement, boot camp is a process, depending on the quality of their DI's (and this is definitely problematic) kids come away with all the benefits and knowledge that boot camp is meant to instill. When I worked in a non boot camp facility, I had many kids that had been through boot camp and they viewed it much the same as I viewed my Army boot camp experience, they were happy as hell to leave, but looked back on it with a fondness. Boot camps do have a high recidivism rate, although I would be very suprised if it was higher than detention centers, which operate very much like jails with almost no treatment component and are generally used only to house youth for short periods of time--in other words they are used for weekend sanctions or as holding areas during court, or after court until the youth is given a permanent placement--the problem with boot camps as far as recidivism goes, as is the case with all placements, is that it provides a structural framework within which a youth can experience success, and yes feel safe.
Upon completion, they are sent home with no further support, and so the support system under which they experienced the change is gone, and they're right back in the same environment that created their problems in the first place. There has got to be a greater emphasis on in-community supports. I'm not talking about punitive things but after-school rec and arts programs, things like that. Providing kids with a continued environment in their communities where they can succeed, feel cared about, and mentored is the ONLY way to instill lasting change and stop the cycle.