ALL OF THESE YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS WERE BORN FROM 1957-1958. THEY WERE INCARCERATED IN THE ILLINOIS YOUTH CENTER FOR PAROLE VIOLATIONS, FALSIFYING IDENTIFICATIONS, AND THEFT. ALL WERE INMATES OF THE CENTER AT THE SAME TIME, AND WERE SELECTED CASE STUDIES. THEY WERE NEITHER THE BEST NOR THE WORST OFFENDERS IN THE CENTER DURING THAT PERIOD. EACH WAS QUESTIONED ON THE PRESENT CHARGE AGAINST HIM, AND ON HIS PREVIOUS CRIMINAL HISTORY. QUESTIONS WERE ASKED ON HOME AND FAMILY LIFE (RELATIONS WITH EACH PARENT), ON ACHIEVEMENT IN SCHOOL, AS WELL AS ON STREET LIFE (DEGREE OF PARTYING AND INTOXICATION) AND GANG MEMBERSHIP, IN ORDER TO ASCERTAIN PEER INFLUENCES. THE LAST PART OF THE INTERVIEW TRIED TO LEAD THE YOUTH INTO AN ANALYSIS OF THEIR LIFESTYLE AND THE DIRECTION OF THEIR FUTURE. QUERIES DEALT WITH FEELINGS OF BEING WRONGFULLY COMMITTED, OPINIONS OF THE YOUTH CENTER ITSELF AND SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS, PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS TO ABSCOND, OPINIONS ABOUT AUTHORITY FIGURES (COTTAGE SUPERVISORS, WORK SUPERVISORS, AND TEACHERS), AND PREDICTIONS ABOUT ANY FUTURE INCARCERATIONS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--DJM)