INFORMATION FOR THE STUDY WAS GATHERED THROUGH REVIEW OF STATE AND LOCAL REPORTS AND PLANS, DATA ON THE NUMBERS AND TYPES OF YOUTHS WHO CAME INTO CONTACT WITH THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM, AND THROUGH FIELD RESEARCH WITH STATE, LOCAL AND PRIVATE AGENCIES. MARYLAND LEGISLATION PROHIBITING THE INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF STATUS OFFENDERS WAS ENACTED IN 1974. AS A RESULT, THE SERVICE NETWORK OF STATE AND COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS HAS EXPANDED EVEN THOUGH THE BASIC STRUCTURE OF THE SERVICE DELIVERY SYSTEM WAS NOT ALTERED BY THE LEGISLATIVE CHANGES. THE JUVENILE SERVICES ADMINISTRATION HAS THE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY FOR STATUS OFFENDERS. SINCE THE LEGISLATION, THE NUMBER OF STATUS OFFENDERS REFERRED TO COURT INTAKE HAS BEEN DECREASING. FAMILIES HAVE BEEN ENCOURAGED TO COPE WITH PROBLEMS THEMSELVES OR SEEK HELP FROM LOCAL COMMUNITY AGENCIES. STATUS OFFENDER REFERRALS HAVE INCREASED FROM 31 PERCENT IN 1973 TO 68 PERCENT IN 1976, AND THERE HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS IN INTERAGENCY COORDINATION AND COOPERATION. A MORE REFINED SERVICE DELIVERY SYSTEM AND A REDEFINITION OF AGENCY ROLES IS REQUIRED. THE STATE HAS NO SINGLE AGENCY CAPABLE OF SERVING THE JUVENILE CLIENTS CHARACTERIZED BY A DEPRIVED BACKGROUND, FUNCTIONAL ILLITERACY, EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE AND SOCIALLY DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR. MARYLAND HAS REDUCED SECURE DETENTIONS BY 80 PERCENT AND COMMITMENTS OF STATUS OFFENDERS BY 97 PERCENT IN THE 2 YEARS FOLLOWING THE LEGISLATIVE CHANGE. RUNAWAYS FORM THE MAJORITY OF THOSE NOW IN SECURE DETENTION. HOWEVER, ADDITIONAL SHELTER CARE FACILITIES ARE NEEDED AS WELL AS MORE GROUP HOMES, FOSTER CARE UNITS, AND DAY TREATMENT CENTERS FOR STATUS OFFENDERS AND OTHER TROUBLED YOUTH. COST IMPACT OF DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION HAS BEEN MINIMAL, ALTHOUGH A SIGNIFICANT COST AND SERVICE IMPACT WOULD BE REQUIRED TO END OUT-OF-STATE PLACEMENTS OF STATUS OFFENDERS. TABULAR DATA ARE INCLUDED.