In 1995, the Colorado Department of Corrections embarked on a pioneer program for rehabilitating teenage criminals, called the Youth Offender System (YOS). Instead of simple incarceration, selected teenagers are put through a rigorous, "tough love"-type training regimen, which has been likened to Marine boot camp.
The site chosen for this program was an unused portion of the Colorado Mental Health Institute (Pueblo, CO), an extensive, campus-type mental hospital facility. Although the state hospital is still active, many dormitories and related facilities have been shut down for almost 10 years.