Reports on admission policies of juvenile institutions in Michigan, New York, Maine, and Minnesota are reviewed. Admission criteria vary from facility to facility on the basis of age, committing offense, social history, past records in the juvenile justice system, and mental health. All juveniles admitted to these programs had committed felonies or had long histories of serious criminal behavior. Some facilities accepted juveniles with severe psychiatric problems. While a change in the rate of violent crimes by juveniles varied greatly over the past 10 years among States and cities, an overall increase in violent juvenile crime is documented for the Nation as a whole. Washington State uses a determinant sentencing structure for juveniles which does not include parole. Points are assigned to juvenile offenders based on their criminal records and seriousness of the current offense, and youths are automatically committed to an institution if they collect over 110 points. Status offenders are diverted to community social agencies, while delinquents with less than 110 points are placed in restitution programs. New York State tries youths age 16 and above in the adult court and age 14 and 15 in the juvenile courts. Youths between age 16 and 19 are eligible for youthful offender status, which involves an indeterminate sentence of up to 4 years imposed at the judge's discretion. The judge can use the adult framework in sentencing anyone over 16 and must do so in serious crimes such as murder, arson, and kidnapping. Sentences in New York State are indeterminate but must conform to specified time limits. The bibliography contains 8 references. (Author abstract modified)