In 1997, detention was used at some point between referral and disposition in 6% of all petitioned status offense cases involving white youth, 8% of those involving black youth, and 4% of those involving youth of other races (table 82). Black youth were more likely than white youth or youth of other races to be detained in cases involving liquor law violations. Between 1988 and 1997, the overall use of detention for petitioned status offense cases declined among all racial groups.