The 583 subjects were in the Michigan Regional Detention Center, a secure residential setting for male and female youthful offenders. A total of 486 males and 97 females comprised the sample. Researchers reviewed the subjects' case files for 1 year to obtain information on age, sex, grade placement, offense, intelligence, and reading and math achievement. Offense categories were aggressive felonies, property felonies, misdemeanor, and status offenses (running away, truancy, incorrigibility, and curfew violation). The findings show that the subjects generally were deficient in conceptualizing and processing information, basic reading skills, and mathematical computations. These deficiencies were evident regardless of offense category, although more severe achievement deficits were related to more severe charges. The authors discuss the implications of these findings for prevention and correctional programs. 6 tables and 27 references