THE DETENTION OF YOUTHS IN DETENTION CENTERS, JAILS, AND POLICE LOCKUPS IS INCREASING. HOWEVER, ONLY ONE-THIRD OF THOSE DETAINED ARE SERIOUS OFFENDERS; 50 PERCENT ARE EITHER STATUS OFFENDERS OR MENTALLY DISTURBED JUVENILES. THE MEDIAN AGE OF DETAINED YOUTHS IS 14 YEARS, AND STUDIES SHOW THAT EARLY POLICE CONTACT RESULTS IN REPEATED OFFENSES. WHILE ADULTS ARE OFTEN RELEASED ON BAIL OR ON PERSONAL RECOGNIZANCE, JUVENILES ARE USUALLY NOT RELEASED; THUS THEIR DETENTION AMOUNTS TO PUNISHMENT. FURTHERMORE, THE ATMOSPHERE IN PLACES OF DETENTION IS MORE PUNITIVE THAN IN THAT OF THE FACILITIES AND INSTITUTIONS UTILIZED AFTER CONVICTION. NATIONAL STUDIES SHOW NO APPARENT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OFFENSES AND POLICE OFFICERS' DECISIONS TO DETAIN. THE POLICE OFTEN BASE THEIR DECISIONS ON THE YOUTHS' DESIRE TO COOPERATE, THE OFFENDERS' SOCIAL STATUS, THE DISTANCE TO THE DETENTION CENTER, AND THE DESIRES OF THE PARENTS TO KEEP THE CHILDREN AT HOME. IN ADDITION, STATUS OFFENDERS ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE DETAINED THAN SERIOUS OFFENDERS, AND THEY USUALLY RECEIVE LONGER TERMS OF CONFINEMENT AND HARSHER DISPOSITIONS. OFFICIAL REASONS FOR DETENTION ARE REVIEWED AND CRITICIZED, AND OTHER AUTHORITIES AND STUDIES ARE CITED. FOR RELATED DOCUMENTS, SEE NCJ 67673 AND 67675-81.