• Although detention practices vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and a youth may be placed in a secure juvenile detention facility at various points during the processing of a case through the juvenile justice system, a general model of detention practices is useful. In all States, secure detention space is primarily used for temporarily holding juveniles while they await adjudication, disposition, or placement elsewhere. When a case is referred to juvenile court, intake staff may decide to hold the youth in a detention facility while the case is being processed. In general, the youth will be detained if there is reason to believe the youth is a threat to the community, will be at risk if returned to the community, or may fail to appear at an upcoming hearing. The youth may also be detained for diagnostic evaluation purposes. In all States, legislation requires that a detention hearing be held within a few days (generally within 24 to 48 hours). At that time, a judge reviews the decision to detain the youth and either orders the youth released or continues the detention.
• In most, however, States detention can also be used for sanctioning purposes. In these States, juveniles may be committed to a detention facility as part of a disposition order or as a sanction for probation violations. Use of detention facilities for disposition purposes has implications for detention facility crowding.

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