The increase in the number of cases detained is driven largely by the increase in the referrals to the juvenile court. Youth were detained at some point between referral to court and case disposition in 21% (321,200) of all delinquency cases. The proportion of cases the courts chose to detain was only slightly higher in 1994 than in 1985, and the pattern of similar growth of cases involving detention and cases referred was seen in all offense categories except drug law violations. The number of drug offense cases involving detention increased almost twice as much as the number of referrals for drug violations between 1985 and 1994. Between 1985 and 1994, the use of detention increased most among drug offense cases involving blacks and males. In 1994, black youth accounted for more than two of five cases involving detention, although black juveniles represented only one-third of juvenile court referrals during that year. In 1994, 28% of cases involving black youth resulted in detention compared with 17% of cases involving white youth. This is a finding of interest to those working with young people in cities with high concentrations of minorities. (Contains two tables and one graph.) (SLD)