UNDER COLORADO LAW, CHILDREN MAY BE TAKEN INTO CUSTODY BY A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER IF THERE ARE REASONABLE GROUNDS TO BELIEVE THEY HAVE COMMITTED DELINQUENT ACTS. WHEN A CHILD IS TAKEN INTO TEMPORARY CUSTODY, THE OFFICER MUST NOTIFY A PARENT, GUARDIAN, OR LEGAL CUSTODIAN AND THE CHILD WILL THEN BE RELEASED INTO THE CARE OF THIS PERSON OR PERSONS. A CHILD PLACED IN DETENTION MUST HAVE A HEARING WITHIN 48 HOURS. FOLLOWING THE HEARING, THE COURT MAY ORDER FURTHER DETENTION OR THE CHILD'S RELEASE. IF A PETITION IS FILED AGAINST THE CHILD, THE COURT MAY HOLD A PRELIMINARY HEARING OR USE AN INFORMAL ADJUSTMENT FOR THE CHILD TO BE COUNSELED PERIODICALLY AND GUIDED BY A DESIGNATED AGENCY. AN ADJUDICATORY HEARING IS HELD, AND AFTERWARDS, THE COURT DECIDES WHETHER THE CHILD SHOULD BE PUT ON PROBATION, PLACED IN THE LEGAL CUSTODY OF SUITABLE PERSONS, PLACED IN LEGAL CUSTODY OF THE STATE, OR COMMITTED TO AN INSTITUTION. DATA ARE PROVIDED FOR COLORADO AS A WHOLE AND FOR 13 REGIONS AND DENVER ON THE NUMBER OF YOUTHS ENTERING THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM IN 1976, THE NUMBER ADJUDICATED, THE KINDS AND TYPES OF OFFENSES, THE NUMBER OF JUVENILE COURT CASES HANDLED AND PENDING, THE NUMBER AND KINDS OF SENTENCES, THE NUMBERS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF JUVENILE COURT PERSONNEL AND JUVENILE CORRECTIONS PERSONNEL, AND THE VARIOUS TYPES OF JUVENILE PROGRAMS FOR DIVERTING YOUTH. INFORMATION IS ALSO GIVEN ON RESEARCH DONE ON JUVENILE JUSTICE, RECIDIVISM RATES, AND NEEDS AND PROBLEMS IN THE SYSTEM. FACTS ON DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION EFFORTS IN THE STATE AND SEPARATION OF ADULTS AND JUVENILES, IMPLEMENTATION AND COSTS OF DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION AND SEPARATION, COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND INVOLVEMENT IN PREVENTION ACTIVITIES, COMMUNITY-BASED CORRECTIONS, AND CONFINEMENT-BASED CORRECTIONS ARE FURNISHED. THE FINAL SECTIONS DISCUSS ASPECTS OF CORRECTIONS PROJECTS SUCH AS FINANCING, TRAINING OF JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM PERSONNEL, AND JUVENILE RECORD PRIVACY POLICIES. LEGISLATION IS RECOMMENDED. (DAG)