Sexually abused children and adolescents who are at a stage of case processing between the revelation of abuse and the trial of the alleged abusers, or who are in emotional turmoil due to such abuse, need special services and support. The evidence shows that a number of such children are held in local secure centers on various grounds; these grounds may include protection from further sexual assaults by an adult offender, previous absconding from nonsecure residential centers, or because of disturbed behavior (including suicide attempts) that may stem from the sexual abuse. These victims of sexual assault are being held in the same facilities with juveniles being detained for serious crimes, including rape and murder, as well as with young adolescents being detained after conviction for such crimes. In some of the worst cases, victims of child sexual abuse have been sexually assaulted by juvenile rapists with whom they have been housed. Legislative and policy mandates should ensure that secure units house only children and adolescents on remand for serious sentences, or those who, once convicted, are too young to serve time in centers for older adolescents. Suicidal and otherwise emotionally disturbed children should be accommodated in regional centers for specialized psychiatric care. 23 references