A survey of State juvenile legislation identified those States which had or appeared to have prohibitions against holding juveniles in adult jails and lock-ups. Researchers visited selected States to obtain information on the nature, history, and practice of their removal legislation and classified all 50 States according to their removal provisions. The issues and recommendations were developed from case studies of Pennsylvania, Florida, Maryland, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Washington, and Mississippi. These States were considered diverse enough to provide valuable lessons in accomplishing the removal objective. Five critical issues which might affect State compliance with the removal objective were identified: the need for alternatives, the role of state government, the level of monitoring and enforcement, the remanding of juveniles and age of jurisdiction, and the effects of a general reform movement in the States. The study recommended Federal technical and financial assistance for State development of policy guidelines and Federal guidelines that would require State governments to develop a leadership role that would help States to develop monitoring and enforcement mechanisms. In addition, the study recommended Federal assistance to demonstrate ways of dealing with serious and violent juvenile offenders and the encouragement of greater systems' improvement in the States. Footnotes are provided, and a chart representing the status of legislation regarding detention of jvueniles in adult jails and lock-ups as of October 1980 is appended. (Author abstract modified)