PUBLIC LAW 93-415 IS THE JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION ACT OF 1974. THIS REPORT SUMMARIZES THE NATIONAL EVALUATION PROGRAM'S PHASE I EFFORT, WHICH INCLUDED A LITERATURE SEARCH AND SITE VISITS. THE STUDY DESCRIBES PROGRAMS DEVELOPED BY U.S. COMMUNITIES TO PROVIDE ALTERNATIVES TO CHILD DETENTION THAT ARE MORE HUMANE THAN SECURE DETENTION AND PRESENT MINIMAL RISK TO THE COMMUNITY. THESE INCLUDE PUBLIC, NONRESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS BASED ON THE HOME DETENTION MODEL, ATTENTION HOMES, PROGRAMS FOR RUNAWAYS, AND PRIVATE FOSTER HOMES. THE ISSUES FOR STUDY BASED ON THE LITERATURE REVIEW AND THE FRAMEWORK CHOSEN TO ORGANIZE THE INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM THE LITERATURE REVIEW AND SITE VISITS ARE PRESENTED. INFORMATION WITH A FOCUS ON HOW YOUTHS ARE SELECTED OR NOT SELECTED FOR ADMISSION TO SECURE DETENTION OR PLACEMENT IN AN ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM IS SUMMARIZED. THE METHODS FOR SELECTING JURISDICTIONS FOR SITE VISITS IS DESCRIBED, AS ARE THE TAXONOMY OR CLASSIFICATION SCHEMA USED TO GROUP ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMS FOR ANALYSIS AND COMPARISON AND WHAT THE PROGRAMS WERE LIKE. ALL FOURTEEN ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMS ARE DISCUSSED IN TERMS OF THEIR KEEPING YOUTHS TROUBLE FREE AND AVAILABLE TO COURT AND IN TERMS OF OTHER GOALS WHICH VARIED AMONG THE PROGRAMS VISITED. FINALLY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO JUVENILE COURTS CONSIDERING THE INTRODUCTION OF AN ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM ARE PRESENTED. FOR THE FULL PHASE I REPORT, IN TWO VOLUMES, SEE NCJ 40732. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)