This decline was prompted by conservative demands for retribution and justice. The ascendance of the justice model over the rehabilitation model was facilitated by the progressive community's acceptance of the justice model as a way to restrict the growing number of juveniles under detention. The intention was to impose confinement limitations through standardized sentencing. Instead, the justice model has led to an unprecedented rise in the number of imprisoned youth and a deterioration in prison conditions. The author maintains that research has proved the superior effectiveness of rehabilitation models in changing patterns of delinquency. He calls upon the progressive community to reaffirm its commitment to rehabilitation in order to dismantle the institution-based system. Rehabilitation is the only viable strategy for reducing custodial confinement and promoting the humane and effective treatment of troubled youths. 9 figures and 45 references