Most prior investigations of the effect of relationships within the family on delinquency have relied exclusively on adolescent perceptions of family life. This study examines both adolescent and parental perceptions of basic family processes to determine whether those perceptions were congruent and how they related to adolescent drug use and delinquent behavior. The sample consists of 987 students who attended the seventh and eighth grades of the Rochester City schools during the 1987-1988 academic year. Results clearly indicate that parents and children have distinct perceptions of family processes; nevertheless, both sets of perceptions are significantly related to the explanation of delinquency. 8 footnotes, 41 references, 6 tables, appendix.