A LARGE NUMBER OF YOUTHS WHO ARE CONFINED TO JUVENILE DETENTION HOMES EVERY YEAR PROBABLY SHOULD NOT BE THERE. INTAKE INTO THESE HOMES NEEDS TO BE CONTROLLED FOR THE SAKE OF THE CHILDREN FOR TWO MAIN REASONS -- CONTAGION AND LABELING. THE MIXING OF DELINQUENT, DEPENDENT, AND NEGLECTED YOUTH IS CERTAIN TO HAVE DELETERIOUS EFFECTS UPON THEM. FURTHER, ONCE A YOUTH ENTERS THE DETENTION HOME, HE OR SHE IS LABELED A BAD OR PROBLEM CHILD. FOR THESE REASONS, DETENTION MUST BE USED AS A LAST RESORT AND IMPOSED ON A LIMITED POPULATION. INTAKE SHOULD BE DONE BY A SKILLED INTAKE OFFICER WHO INTERVIEWS BOTH PARENT AND CHILD. FORMAL TREATMENT IS NOT A FUNCTION OF JUVENILE PRETRIAL DETENTION, BUT SOMETHING THAT BEGINS AFTER A CHILD IS ADJUDICATED DELINQUENT. WHILE TREATMENT IS PRECLUDED, SERVICE WORKERS MUST INTERACT INFORMALLY IN POSITIVE HUMAN WAYS WITH THE CHILD IN THEIR CARE. THESE CHILDREN NEED SUPPORT AND NOT CONDEMNATION. PREVIOUS RESEARCH BY THE AUTHOR INDICATES THESE YOUTHS IDENTIFY SEVERAL QUALITIES OF THE CHILD CARE WORKER WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROGRAM'S SUCCESS, NAMELY INDEPENDENCE, SUPPORT, FLEXIBILITY, SENSITIVITY, CONCERN, HONESTY, PATIENCE, REALISM, AND CARING. IN TAKING THE HISTORY OF THE INCOMING CHILD AND IN THE PHYSICAL EXAMINATION, THE INTAKE OFFICER CANNOT NEGLECT THE HUMAN ELEMENT FOR THE SAKE OF MANAGEMENT EFFICIENCY. A DIVERSE AND POSITIVELY ORIENTED DAILY PROGRAM OF A VOLUNTARY NATURE (COEDUCATIONAL WHERE POSSIBLE) CAN BE SEEN AS EITHER A TOOL OF PROPHYLAXIS OR REHABILITATION. THE OVERALL PROGRAM SHOULD BE GROWTH ORIENTED AND GEARED TO THE NEEDS OF THE INDIVIDUAL CHILD. SCHOOL PROGRAMS ARE THE MAJOR ACTIVITY IN MOST DETENTION HOMES. RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS SHOULD STRESS THOSE SPORTS AND GAMES REQUIRING COOPERATION AND TEAMWORK. DAILY CHORES SHOULD NOT BE NEGLECTED. IT IS IMPORTANT NOT TO CONFUSE A CHILD CARE WORKER'S ROLE WITH THAT OF THE PSYCHOTHERAPIST. DETENTION FACILITIES SHOULD PROVIDE FOR THE BASIC NEED FOR OCCASIONAL SOLITUDE. THE PERENNIAL COMPLAINT OF LACK OF FUNDING IS NOT A VALID ARGUMENT, SINCE IT USUALLY COSTS MORE TO MAINTAIN CHILDREN IN A CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION FOR A YEAR THAN TO SEND THEM TO A PRIVATE COLLEGE. ONE VIRTUALLY UNTAPPED MANPOWER SOURCE IS VOLUNTEERS. TRAINING FOR DETENTION PERSONNEL IS ALMOST NONEXISTENT. IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT DETENTION PERSONNEL CAREFULLY EXAMINE THE FUNCTION OF JUVENILE DETENTION, AND DEVELOP INSTITUTIONAL PROGRAMS THAT WILL LIMIT THE DAMAGE DONE TO YOUNG PEOPLE AWAITING COURT CONFRONTATION. (DJM)