The get tough movement in juvenile justice calls for waivers to adult courts for serious crime and holding status offenders in juvenile detention, both elements in the proposed Senate Bill 1231. This hard line approach is evident in Cook County committments to the Department of Corrections which more than doubled between 1980 and 1981. The 516-bed Cook County juvenile detention center was erected in 1973, but never operated at capacity because of cooperative efforts between the juvenile courts, State Attorney's Office, probation department, and detention staff. The average daily population for the center in 1980 was 150, but jumped to over 200 in 1981. This 30 percent increase can be attributed to changes in State Attorney's policies and laws rather than increased juvenile crime. Crime measured by juvenile felony arrests has been rather stable since 1976, and juvenile arrests for murder have declined. While the volume of juvenile crime has remained 5 percent to 19 percent below the 1975 level, with the exception of 1976, commitments in Cook County have always been 8 percent to 30 percent above the 1975 level. The care and treatment of the increased numbers of youths placed in detention centers and institutions obviously costs the taxpayers, although this had been hidden from the public. Other facts contradict the need for this get tough approach. Nearly half the youths presently incarcerated have no history of violence, and most were committed for property offenses. Nearly 42 percent of those committed are black, and two-thirds are from Cook County. Graphs are included.