Crowding has become the rule in the Nation's juvenile institutions. More than half a million youths per year pour into secure, publicly operated juvenile detention centers. More than half of the youths detained in the United States now are served in crowded facilities. Crowded institutions struggle every day with the possibility of crises. Some facilities attempt to prevent crises with locks, fences, and strict custodial regimes. Money applied in this way, however, can diminish the resources for institutional rehabilitative programs. Pilot centers around the Nation are using a different approach. Although they use risk assessment, electronic monitoring, home detention, and streamlined court processing to reduce crowding, they also rely on programs and staff-inmate interactions to prevent institutional problems and reduce tension. Some facilities have improved conditions through increased staff-to-resident ratios. Volunteers teach skills that range from anger management to self- esteem and social skills. Many administrators of juvenile institutions have found that programs which facilitate positive staff-resident interaction and teach constructive behaviors while providing a predictable daily schedule minimize security crises. 4 references