THE JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION ACT OF 1974 STATES THAT THE LEAA CANNOT AWARD FORMULA GRANTS TO STATES UNLESS THE STATES INCLUDE IN THEIR COMPREHENSIVE PLANS PROVISIONS FOR ENDING THE PRACTICE OF PLACING STATUS OFFENDERS IN SECURE DETENTION AND CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES. THE GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE'S REVIEW OF EFFORTS TO IMPLEMENT THIS REQUIREMENT AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL AND IN FIVE STATES (CALIFORNIA, FLORIDA, LOUISIANA, MASSACHUSETTS, AND VIRGINIA) FOUND THAT STATE LAWS AND PRACTICES FREQUENTLY CONFLICT WITH THE REQUIREMENT, THAT INSUFFICIENT ALTERNATIVE SERVICES HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED, THAT UNCERTAINTY EXISTS ABOUT APPROPRIATE DISPOSITIONS FOR STATUS OFFENDERS, AND THAT MONITORING SYSTEMS TO DETERMINE COMPLIANCE HAVE NOT BEEN ESTABLISHED. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR APPROACHES TO BE TAKEN BY THE LEAA IN FACILITATING AND MONITORING STATE COMPLIANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENT ARE PRESENTED. SUPPORTING DATA AND DOCUMENTATION ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--LKM)