Recent literature suggests that a system of deinstitutionalization is appropriate and manageable and needs to be pursued as a viable alternative for juvenile offenders. In defining deinstitutionalization, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention has established guidelines to reflect what a least restrictive environment should include. These guidelines consider attributes of size, distance from home, degree of security, population mix, and community programming. With the variance in labels and treatment programs, attempts to evaluate the effectiveness of community-based methods are troublesome. In general, however, studies indicate more negative consequences for youth committed to institutions than to community-based programs. An evaluation of juvenile detention in Nebraska indicates that the process by which troubled juveniles are managed needs to be evaluated. Opportunities exist for moving in the more positive direction of community-based treatment. Appendixes contain a risk assessment instrument, a method of scoring juvenile offenses, and a purpose statement of Nebraska's Juvenile Services Planning Committee. 14 references, 7 tables, and 1 figure