The study sought to determine whether it was possible to reduce the number of youth in secure detention and place young people in trouble with the law in community programs, without incurring an increase in juvenile crime. The analysis concentrated on the neighboring jurisdictions of Washington, DC, and the State of Maryland, in part because of their high rates of disproportionate minority confinement. The study was based on data from juvenile arrest and detention records, interviews with experts who had worked with either or both of the jurisdictions about issues facing policymakers regarding juvenile justice, newspaper articles, and reports commissioned by government agencies concerning secure detention. In order to achieve a more rational use of detention space, the study recommended that both jurisdictions: (1) review use of detention and profile the population detained before undertaking additional construction; (2) expand the use of community-based programming to create a continuum of detention alternatives; (3) analyze disproportionate minority confinement to ascertain whether there was racial disproportionality and develop approaches to redress any inequities; and (4) look to standards promulgated by professional organizations before planning and constructing secure youth facilities. Figures, notes, appendix