From national data the following facts about implementation are readily apparent: Implementation is strongly associated with private sector dominance; alternatives are linked to the child welfare system, as well as the juvenile correctional system; privately administered alternatives are heavily subsidized by federal and state public funds; the division of labor that has developed between the public and private correctional sectors is strongly associated with degree of offense seriousness, deviance diversity, and disproportionate number of females; and the utilization of private alternatives tends to vary by geographical regions. These facts are documented and the reasons why American implementation of this strategy has occurred with these characteristics is discussed. (Author abstract)