"Common sense" is often used as a powerful rationale for implementing correctional programs that have no basis in criminology and virtually no hope of reducing recidivism. Within this context, we undertake a case study in "common-sense' corrections by showing how the rise of boot camps, although having multiple causes, was ultimately legitimized by appeals to common sense. We also reveal, however, how sustained, rigorous research attenuated this legitimacy and contributed to the diminished appeal of boot camps. The "fall" of this sanction suggests that evidence-based corrections may, at times, compete successfully with common-sense corrections. The policy and practice implications of this observation are explored.