TOPICS COVERED INCLUDE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DIFFERENT PERSONALITY TYPES AND ABSCONDING, THE EFFECT OF THE TRAINING SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT ON ESCAPE RATES, THE POSSIBILITY OF ABSCONDING BEING A LEARNED BEHAVIOR, AND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ABSCONDING AND RECONVICTION FOLLOWING RELEASE. THE 'INTERNAL CAUSALITY' (PERSONALITY) THEORY OF BEHAVIOR IS REJECTED IN FAVOR OF AN 'ENVIRONMENTAL/LEARNING THEORY' VIEW OF THE PROBLEM. SUGGESTIONS FOR REDUCING THE OPPORTUNITIES AND MOTIVATION TO ABSCOND IN THE TRAINING SCHOOL SETTING ARE OFFERED. THE EFFECTIVENESS OF APPROVED SCHOOLS FOR 'TREATING' JUVENILE DELINQUENCY AND THE FUTURE OF INSTITUTIONAL TREATMENT FOR JUVENILES ARE ALSO QUESTIONED. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT RELATIVELY SHORT-TERM RESIDENTIAL CARE CANNOT BE EXPECTED TO ACHIEVE MORE THAN VERY LIMITED SUCCESS, ALTHOUGH THE USE OF RESIDENTIAL CARE MAY BE UNAVOIDABLE, AT LEAST UNTIL EFFECTIVE COMMUNITY-BASED TREATMENTS CAN BE DEVELOPED. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED.