There is less geographic variation in the commitment rate of juvenile offenders than is commonly assumed. Apparently, judges across the country develop a similar standard of what percentage of youths they face should be committed. This standard may be similar across the country because it represents broadly shared ideals. However, there is much larger variation among courts in the rate of informal handling of cases involving juvenile offenders, and the indications are that the informal rate is largely determined by the way contiguous courts handle these cases, rather than reflecting rational strategies. These data indicate that elaborate mechanisms for controlling commitment rates might not prove useful, since juvenile courts are only slightly influenced by rational organization forms. More blunt approaches that acknowledge the existing reality of the institutions must be used. (Author/WP)