A basic assumption of the YOA is that juveniles will be responsible for their actions, will understand the law, and thereby appreciate the juvenile justice system. However, it appears that as lawyers take over conflicts, major efforts of the new act will be defeated. It is argued that conflict should be regarded as property which belongs to victims and offenders. Instead, many modern legal systems take the conflict out of the hands of the people involved and place it into the hands of the experts. This paper shows that juveniles who go through the juvenile justice system in France have more control over conflicts and remain more active participants than their North American counterparts. The dynamics of the French juvenile justice system will be described briefly from the perspective of someone who takes for granted the assumptions of the North American juvenile justice system. 5 references. (Author abstract modified)