This document contains prepared statements and public witness testimony from the Congressional hearing on deinstitutionalization of juvenile nonoffenders. Following an opening statement by Senator Specter, subcommittee chairman, the text of proposed legislation, S.520, designed to protect dependent children and others from institutional abuse, is presented. Panel testimony by representatives of Juvenile Advocates, the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, Camp Fire, Inc., the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, Birchaven Enterprises, Inc., the Western Wyoming Juvenile Justice Program, the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, and family members of juvenile offenders is presented. Topics which are covered include the effects of jailing, causes of incarceration, statistics on the incidence of illegal incarceration, varying state juvenile practices, Illinois community-based youth services, Illinois juvenile legislation, state compliance with the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (JJDP) Act, and case studies. The appendix contains letters from the Oklahoma Commission for Human Services, a statement on secure detention of juvenile noncriminal offenders, excerpts from the compilation of JJDP data, an Office of JJDP news feature, a report to the Attorney General on improved federal efforts needed to change juvenile detention practices, a summary of participation in the JJDP Act, and a report by the federal government advisory panel on jails. (BL)