Definition

Noun A correctional institution for the detention, discipline, and training of young or first-time offenders. It is a type of juvenile detention facility focused on rehabilitation and reform rather than solely on punishment.

Usage

The term "reform school" is used to refer to a specific type of institution for juvenile offenders. It is a formal, institutional term. * Historically, many reform schools emphasized strict discipline and vocational training. * The judge sent the teenager to a reform school instead of an adult prison.

Examples

• The novel's protagonist spent his teenage years in a reform school.
• Modern alternatives to traditional reform schools focus more on therapy and education.
• He was sent to a reform school after his third arrest for petty theft.

Advanced Usage

• The term can sometimes carry historical or negative connotations, implying a harsh, punitive environment. Modern equivalents are often called "youth correctional facilities," "juvenile detention centers," or "therapeutic boarding schools."
• "to be sent to reform school": This is a common collocation describing the action of a court or authority.

Variants and Related Words

• Reformatory (noun): A direct synonym for "reform school."
• Juvenile detention center (noun): A modern term for a facility that detains young offenders, which may or may not have a strong rehabilitative focus.
• Borstal (noun, chiefly British): A historical term for a type of youth prison or reform school in the UK.
• Training school (noun): Another historical synonym.

Synonyms

• Correctional institution (for juveniles)
• Youth detention facility
• Juvenile hall (informal)

Related Idioms/Phrases

• While not a direct idiom, the phrase "scared straight" is related to the concept of deterring young people from crime, sometimes associated with programs at or visits to such institutions.

Noun

1. correctional institution for the detention and discipline and training of young or first offenders