Questionnaires completed for 184 youths committed between September 21, 1980 and May 1981 revealed that 146 (79.3 percent) of the youths were recommended for institutional placement, 31 (16.8 percent) for paid placement, and 5 (3.8 percent) for parole or placement at Fort Logan Mental Health Center. The questionnaires covered all youths committed during this period and for whom placement decisions were made. The detention centers were similar in their use of institutional and community placements. Placement decisions did not relate significantly to the number of prior adjudications. The majority of youths had committed property crimes. The diagnosticians used specific treatment needs most frequently as their placement criterion. Other frequent criteria were offense or runaway history, I-level, prior interventions, and needs for structure. In 77 percent of the cases, the diagnosticians considered two or more criteria. The diagnosticians generally felt that their placement recommendations were appropriate. Data tables and an appendix containing the study instrument are provided. (Author summary modified)