The first hypothesis was that indirect parental controls are inversely and linearly related with delinquency, whereas direct controls will have a U-shaped curvilinear relationship with delinquent behavior. The second hypothesis was that the effect of direct control on delinquency depends on parental attachment. The 1,395 youths were interviewed concerning their family relationships, peers, beliefs, education, and involvement in 17 delinquent acts. The results revealed more complexity in the relationships between parental controls and delinquency than theories suggest. Indirect and direct controls were equally likely to be linear or curvilinear, and curvilinear relationships were not just U-shaped. Findings also demonstrated that delinquency is higher when parental attachment is low and monitoring and discipline are high, but this interaction is gender-specific and age-specific and depended on the type of direct control and the parent. Findings suggest the existence of optimal levels of parental control for inhibiting delinquency. In addition, more research is needed, possibly leading to revision of theories. Tables, notes, and appended additional results and 49 references