V: Directions for Further Research

Research currently in progress with an MMPI-based taxonomy of youthful offenders is described and directions future research should take are indicated. Further research delineating the types, determining their response to different programs, and the stability of group membership over time are needed, as are studies exploring the applicability of the system to other groups of offenders. However, experiments comparing the groups' responses to different treatment programs pose serious methodological and ethical problems.