The decade of the 1890's marked a turning point in the history of gender and race relations in the United States. The literature suggests that the development of juvenile institutions in the South was precipitated by the need to control the different segments of society. Once the behavior of white male juvenile delinquents became intolerable, the pattern of placing them in institutions with adults was established. Controversy over this practice led to the mandating of separate institutions for white male youths and white male adults. Black male youths were controlled by slavery before the Civil War. After slavery ended, black youths remained in the adult penal system and were handled through the convict lease system. When these mechanisms became untenable, the juvenile institution was introduced to maintain social control, mainly by supplying needed laborers. Institutions for white female youths were developed to save poor white females from sexual immorality by providing a conduit for instruction in what was considered women's work. Black females were remanded to adult institutions or handled out of State until the costs necessitated the development of special institutions. Clearly, the advent of juvenile institutions in the south was intended toward maintaining the status quo regarding both gender and race. 36 references and list of official documents used as sources