THE PROGRAMS STUDIED WERE: THE EVERETT HOUSE, A FACILITY FOR GIRLS LOCATED IN THE DORCHESTER SECTION OF BOSTON; PROJECT PLACE, AN OPEN FACILITY TO ANYONE UNDER 18; AND BROCKTON YMCA SHELTER CARE PROGRAM, A SEMI-CARE FACILITY. THE STUDY WAS UNDERTAKEN AGAINST A HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF OFFENDER REHABILITATION WITH A FOCUS ON DEVELOPMENTS IN THE MASSACHUSETTS CORRECTIONS SYSTEM, PARTICULARLY EXPLORING THE DIFFERENCES IN OPTIONAL TREATMENTS FOR YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS WITHIN TRADITIONAL AND ALTERNATIVE SETTINGS. FOR DATA COLLECTION, WRITTEN QUESTIONNAIRES WERE DISTRIBUTED TO STAFF AND CLIENTS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH SERVICES AND A STATISTICAL ANALYSIS FOLLOWED. THE RESULTS SHOWED THAT THE RECIDIVISM RATE (BASED ON ARREST WHILE STILL IN THE PROGRAM) DROPPED MARKEDLY IN ALL PROGRAMS, WITH THE HIGHEST AT PLACE HOUSE AT 14 PERCENT AND THE LOWEST AT BROCKTON YMCA AT 5 PERCENT. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)