BECAUSE SUITABLE ALTERNATIVES ARE NOT AVAILABLE, JUVENILE STATUS OFFENDERS ARE BEING DETAINED IN DETENTION CENTERS, JAILS, AND POLICE LOCKUPS. FIFTY PERCENT OF ALL DETAINED JUVENILES ARE STATUS OFFENDERS, AND 75 PERCENT OF THESE ARE FEMALES. A MINNESOTA JUDGE INDICATES THAT HIS COUNTY HAS THREE OPTIONS FOR HANDLING YOUTHS: THEY MAY BE SENT TO A JUVENILE CENTER, PLACED ON BAIL, OR RETURNED TO THEIR PARENTS' CARE. THREE STANDARDS ARE USED TO DETERMINE IF DETENTION IS APPROPRIATE: WHETHER THE YOUTHS ARE DANGEROUS, WHETHER THEY ARE ENDANGERED, AND WHETHER THEY ARE 'RUNNERS.' A LOS ANGELES COUNTY SUPERVISOR EXPLAINS THAT IN MOST AREAS, FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROBLEMS IN OVERSIZED SOCIAL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS PREVENT THE ADEQUATE CARE OF JUVENILES. A LOCAL CHILD ADVOCACY CORPS IS NEEDED IN ORDER TO FIND OUT THE REAL CAUSES OF INDIVIDUAL JUVENILES' PROBLEMS WHEN THE PARENTS OR THE AUTHORITIES ARE UNABLE TO PROVIDE SOLUTIONS. MEMBERS OF THE CORPS WOULD (1) RESPOND TO EARLY WARNING SIGNS APPEARING IN COMPLAINTS, (2) ENHANCE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN JUVENILES AND AGENCIES AND AMONG THE AGENCIES THEMSELVES, (3) PROVIDE MEDIATION, AND (4) MONITOR AND EVALUATE PROGRAMS FOR YOUTHS. SUCH A CORPS IS PLANNED FOR LOS ANGELES. CASES ARE USED TO ILLUSTRATE PROBLEMS. FOR RELATED DOCUMENTS, SEE NCJ 67673-74 AND 67676-81.