A LITERATURE REVIEW, ON-SITE VISITS TO PROGRAMS IN SEVERAL PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, AND CONSULTATIONS WITH EXPERTS IN THE FIELD WERE CONDUCTED TO MODIFY AND SUPPLEMENT PRIOR STUDIES BY STAFF MEMBERS. THE CAUSAL MODEL ADOPTED FOR THE RESEARCH ASSUMED THAT DIFFERENTIAL OUTCOMES FOR YOUTH IN THESE PROGRAMS ARE CONSEQUENCES OF PROGRAM ENVIRONMENT, LEADERSHIP, GOALS, TECHNOLOGIES, STRUCTURE AND STAFFING, YOUTH/STAFF INTERACTION, AND YOUTHS' SOCIAL SYSTEM. A TOTAL OF 42 INSTITUTIONS IN 16 STATES WERE STUDIED, USING QUESTIONNAIRES DISTRIBUTED AMONG INMATES, STAFF, AND ADMINISTRATORS AS WELL AS ON-SITE VISITS BY THE RESEARCH TEAM. DATA INDICATED SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES AMONG PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS AND AMONG YOUTH.