DATA WERE OBTAINED FROM QUESTIONNAIRES COMPLETED BY 42 OF THE 44 TEMPORARY CARE FACILITIES FOR JUVENILES IN THE STATE. STATISTICS SHOW THAT ABOUT 16,000 CHILDREN WERE ADMITTED TO NEW JERSEY DETENTION AND SHELTER FACILITIES IN 1977, AT A COST OF NEARLY $14 MILLION. THE EFFORT TO COLLECT DATA REVEALED A GENERAL LACK OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE FACILITIES AND THE CHILDREN SERVED, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO ASSESS OPERATIONS AND PLAN EFFECTIVELY. WHILE THE MAJORITY OF THE RESIDENTS STAYED 30 DAYS OR LESS, NEARLY ONE-THIRD OF THE OVERALL RESIDENT POPULATION HAD BEEN IN CARE OVER 30 DAYS. ALTHOUGH DETENTION AND JINS FACILITIES ARE LEGALLY AUTHORIZED TO PROVIDE CARE TO YOUTH PRIOR TO DISPOSITION, BETWEEN 20 AND 25 PERCENT WERE DETAINED ON A POSTDISPOSITIONAL BASIS. THE RELATIVE YOUTH OF SOME OF THE RESIDENTS IN DETENTION AND SHELTER CARE INDICATES THAT IN CERTAIN INSTANCES THESE FACILITIES DO NOT REPRESENT 'THE LEAST RESTRICTIVE ALTERNATIVE.' THE HIGH PERCENTAGE OF GIRLS IN JINS SHELTERS SUGGESTS THAT GIRLS RECEIVE SEVERER SANCTIONS FOR STATUS OFFENSES THAN DO BOYS. THE QUALITY AND ACTIVITIES OF EDUCATIONAL, RECREATIONAL, AND COUNSELING SERVICES VARY WIDELY. OVERALL, THE SYSTEM LACKS ACCOUNTABILITY BECAUSE THE COUNTIES HAVE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY FOR OPERATING AND FINANCING THESE PROGRAMS, WITH STATE AGENCIES HAVING ONLY LIMITED AUTHORITY AND ENFORCEMENT POWERS. THE LACK OF STANDARDS GOVERNING THE FACILITIES PERMITS MANY TO OPERATE IN A HIGHLY IDIOSYNCRATIC AND AUTONOMOUS FASHION. RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE THE SETTING OF ADMISSION AND OPERATING STANDARDS, WITH REGULAR MONITORING AND EVALUATION OF FACILITY POLICIES AND PRACTICES. STUDY TOOLS ARE APPENDED, ALONG WITH A LIST OF THE FACILITIES SURVEYED AND A STATEMENT OF THE STATE JUVENILE CODE. TABULAR DATA REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)