TO DETERMINE THE NATURE OF THE FAMILIES OF JUVENILE DELINQUENTS AND THE POSSIBLE IMPACT OF FAMILY THERAPY, A RESEARCH TEAM EXAMINED APPROXIMATELY 100 FAMILIES IN THE SWISS CITY OF GENEVA. THE CHILDREN OF THESE FAMILIES (AGES 15 TO 18) WERE UNDER ARREST OR INVESTIGATION BECAUSE OF CRIMINAL OFFENSES. THE THERAPY SESSIONS REVEALED THAT MOST FAMILIES WERE PROFOUNDLY DISTURBED BY THEIR CHILDREN'S ACTIONS WHILE TRYING TO MINIMIZE THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE OFFENSES. MOTHERS WERE USUALLY ANXIOUS, VENGEFUL, AND FULL OF REPROACH. FATHERS, ALTHOUGH OUTWARDLY STRICT AND MORALIZING, SECRETLY SYMPATHIZED WITH THEIR OFFSPRING AND WERE NOSTALGICALLY ATTACHED TO THEIR OWN ADOLESCENCE. THE FAMILIES TENDED TO USE DEVIOUS AND CONTRADICTORY PATTERNS OF COMMUNICATION; FOR EXAMPLE, WHILE OPENLY ENCOURAGING THEIR CHILD TO BECOME INDEPENDENT (EVEN ASKING HIM TO LEAVE THE HOUSE), THE PARENTS COVERTLY DID WHATEVER THEY COULD TO PERPETUATE HIS DEPENDENCE ON THE FAMILY. INDIVIDUAL CASE ANALYSIS INDICATED THAT THE ADOLESCENTS' OFFENSES USUALLY BORE AN INTIMATE CONNECTION TO THE FAMILY HISTORY, WITH THE JUVENILES OFTEN ACTING OUT A SECRET, UNRESOLVED FAMILY PROBLEM THAT WAS NEVER DISCUSSED AT HOME (IN ONE CASE A SADISTIC GRANDFATHER). SINCE JUVENILES' OFFENSES ARE INTIMATELY LINKED TO UNRESOLVED FAMILY CONFLICT, FAMILY THERAPY APPEARS A HIGHLY APPROPRIATE TOOL FOR DEALING WITH JUVENILE DELINQUENCY. BY DEFUSING THE BLAME THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE FAMILY, THIS TECHNIQUE OF THERAPY DOES NOT PUT THE ENTIRE BURDEN ON THE JUVENILE ALONE WHOSE ACTIONS ARE ULTIMATELY A RESPONSE TO A FAMILY SITUATION. THE ARTICLE INCLUDES A SHORT BIBLIOGRAPHY. --IN FRENCH. (SAJ)