The report examines the characteristics of children (primarily between the ages of 6 and 17 years) placed in 42 New Jersey detention facilities, juveniles in need of supervision (JINS) shelters, and children's shelters; and provides descriptive information and analysis on the programs, policies, and budgets of these "temporary" residences. An introductory chapter briefly reviews the New Jersey system of shelter and detention centers, and explains that questionnaires mailed to 42 facilities gathered information in three categories (daily census, annual admissions, and services and staff). Chapter 2 examines national issues and policies, and gives an indepth description of the system of detention and shelter care, including legal definitions, facility descriptions, criteria for placement, and the role of agencies charged with monitoring and inspecting the facilities. Based on data provided from the 42 facilities surveyed, the third chapter provides statistics and characteristics of the types of children placed in temporary care. Chapters 4 and 5 focus on the experiences of and services to children in detention and shelter care; while Chapter 6 reports the costs of a temporary care system. A final chapter gives an overview of findings which include that despite the fact that many children had serious educational deficits and histories of school failure, some programs provided an hour or less of instruction per day while others had voluntary attendance policies. Among appendixes are a sample statewide survey questionnaire; a list of New Jersey detention facilities, JINS shelters, and childrens shelters; and a copy of New Jersey's Juvenile Code. (SBH)