The data was collected on a sample of 371 youth and gathered from YDDC resident files, telephone interviews with each youth's probation officer, and telephone interviews with the youths themselves. The dependent variable in the study was recidivism, defined as rearrest within a follow-up period of 12 months. The test variable was treatment; seven independent variables were included. The findings indicate that more serious juvenile offenders were committed to the training school, exhibiting characteristics of serious delinquent offenders, although some were committed for status offenses. The results show that most youths who recidivate following commitment to YDDC do not possess the characteristics of more serious juvenile offenders, but are usually younger and misdemeanor offenders. On the contrary, longer institutionalization leads to reduced recidivism rates. Only completion of a treatment program following commitment and age were significant correlates of time to recidivism. Finally, according to the results, treatment intervention had only short-term effects in delaying or reducing recidivism. 12 tables, 32 references. (Author abstract modified)