The majority (71.1 percent) of new commitments were attributable to three offender subgroups: first-time felons, second-time felons who were 14 years or older, and misdemeanants. Most (83.9 percent) juveniles had six or more court referrals at the time of their commitment. Approximately two-thirds of the total new commitments had two or fewer petitions for felony offenses, and 86.3 percent of the misdemeanants had two or fewer petitions for felony offenses. Almost one-half of the juveniles were 12 years old or younger at the time of their first court referral, and the most common age of commitment was 16 or 17 years old. In fiscal year 2000, almost all of the juveniles had school behavior (94.4 percent), substance abuse (92.7 percent), and peer relationship (92.2 percent) needs. The proportion of new commitments with probation violation as their most serious committing offense increased over the last four fiscal years from 21.8 percent to 41.4 percent. Female juveniles committed with probation violation as their most serious committing offense had increased steadily over the last four years, from 11.8 percent to 18.4 percent, while the male juveniles had decreased from 88.2 percent to 81.6 percent. The average length of stay of new commitments for a misdemeanor offense had increased from 6.9 months in fiscal year 1999 to 7.4 months in fiscal year 2000. The trend continued to increase in court-ordered minimums for the less serious offenders, with the largest increase occurring in the juveniles committed for misdemeanor offenses. Extensive tables and figures