WITH THE PASSAGE OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION ACT OF 1974, CONGRESS MADE AVAILABLE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN FEDERAL AID TO THE STATES FOR IMPROVEMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE. HOWEVER, THE AVAILABILITY OF THESE FUNDS WAS MADE CONTINGENT ON STATE COMPLIANCE WITH THE FEDERAL MANDATE THAT WITHIN TWO YEARS AFTER SUBMISSION OF THE PLAN, 'JUVENILES WHO ARE CHARGED WITH OR HAVE COMMITTED OFFENSES THAT WOULD NOT BE CRIMINAL IF COMMITTED BY AN ADULT SHALL NOT BE PLACED IN JUVENILE DETENTION OR CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES, BUT MUST BE PLACED IN SHELTER FACILITIES'. THIS REQUIREMENT NECESSITATES AN OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF THESE STATUS OFFENDERS ACCEPTABLE TO BOTH LEAA AND STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IF STATES WISH TO RECEIVE FORMULA GRANTS UNDER THIS ACT. THIS REPORT CONTAINS THE RESULTS OF AN EFFORT TO DEVELOP AND TEST SUCH AN OPERATIONAL DEFINITION: INCLUDED ARE DISCUSSIONS OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE DEFINITION, VALIDATION OF THE DEFINITION, AND UTILITY OF THE DEFINITION. THE RESULTS OF THIS STUDY HAVE ALREADY BEEN INCORPORATED INTO LEAA'S GUIDELINES FOR IMPLEMENTING THIS ACT. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)