THERE ARE SEVERAL WAYS IN WHICH AN ESCAPE ATTEMPT MAY HAVE DRAMATIC AND OFTEN TRAGIC CONSEQUENCES. FIRST, IN ITS COMMISSION INMATES AND STAFF MAY SUFFER INJURY AND DEATH. SECOND, PRISONERS WHO SUCCESSFULLY ESCAPE OFTEN COMMIT OTHER CRIMES IN THE PROCESS, INCLUDING CAR THEFT, ASSAULT, ROBBERY, AND KIDNAPPING. THIRD, IF THE ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE IS UNSUCCESSFUL AND THERE IS ANY FEELING THAT AN INFORMER OR A CONSPIRATOR WAS TO BLAME, RETALIATION MAY BE TAKEN AGAINST THOSE BELIEVED TO BE RESPONSIBLE. AND FOURTH, IN THE POLITICAL CLIMATES OF SOME SYSTEMS, AN ESCAPE MAY CAUSE JOB INSECURITY AMONG TOP ADMINISTRATORS. THERE ARE USUALLY THREE TYPES OF ESCAPES POSSIBLE FROM A CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION. ONE IS FORCIBLY PENETRATING OR BREACHING THE SECURITY PERIMETER, USUALLY A WALL OR FENCE. A SECOND REQUIRES CONCEALMENT ABOARD A VEHICLE LEAVING THE INSTITUTION OR CREATING A DISGUISE BY MEANS OF WHICH PASSAGE THROUGH ESTABLISHED EXISTS CAN BE MADE. THIRD, ESCAPES FROM AUTHORIZED TRIPS OUTSIDE ARE A FREQUENT OCCURRENCE. ESCAPE ATTEMPTS THROUGH CONCEALMENT HAVE TAKEN MANY FORMS. PRISONERS HAVE DRESSED IN CIVILIAN CLOTHES, JOINED A LARGE GROUP OF VISITORS, AND TRIED TO ACCOMPANY THEM THROUGH THE EXISTS. THEY HAVE HIDDEN IN TRASH COMPACTORS; A FEW FABRICATE RELEASE PAPERS OR CONTRIVE PASSES TO WORK OUTSIDE THE WALLS. IN THE ABSENCE OF SYSTEMATIC RESEARCH, NO ONE KNOWS WHAT MOTIVATES PRISONERS TO TAKE THE EXTRAORDINARY RISKS INCURRED THROUGH A FORCIBLE DEPARTURE, BUT INFORMAL DISCUSSIONS WITH PRISON STAFFS AND INMATES SUGGEST THAT MANY OF THE REASONS CONVICTED OFFENDERS ESCAPE FROM CUSTODY ARE THE SAME REASONS ANY PERSON WOULD RESIST RESTRICTIVE CIRCUMSTANCES. IF THEY ARE TO HAVE ANY PROSPECT OF SUCCESS, ESCAPE PLANS REQUIRE ATTENTION TO SEVERAL MATTERS: SECURITY AS REGARDS THE SECRECY OF THE INITIATIVE, TIMING, STAFF ASSESSMENT, THE HISTORY OF PAST ATTEMPTS, PROSPECTS FOR ASSISTANCE, EQUIPMENT, AND ITS STORAGE. FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE STAFF, CONTRABAND ASSOCIATED WITH AN IMPENDING ESCAPE ATTEMPT MERITS THE HIGHEST DEGREE OF ATTENTION. A LISTING OF ESCAPE CONTRABAND INCLUDES BAR SPREADER AND CUTTERS; KEYS, LOCKPICKS, DRILLS, AND PUNCHES; EXCAVATING AND WALL PENETRATING EQUIPMENT; LADDERS AND SCALING HARDWARE; AND ESCAPE PLANS AND OTHER AIDS. EXAMPLES OF ESCAPES ARE GIVEN. NOTES ARE PROVIDED. (KBL)