SINCE ITS CREATION IN 1951 BY THE FRENCH DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, THE FUNCTIONS OF THE CENTER OF VAUCRESSON HAVE BEEN THREEFOLD: (1) TO TRAIN PERSONNEL SPECIALISTS WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE JUDICIAL SUPERVISION OF JUVENILES, (2) TO FUNCTION AS A SPECIALIZED LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SERVICE FOR FOREIGN AND NATIVE EXPERTS, AND (3) TO ACT AS A RESEARCH CENTER IN THE FIELD OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY AND THE SOCIAL REINTEGRATION OF JUVENILES. THE STUDIES CONDUCTED AT VAUCRESSON ARE NOT LIMITED TO ONE PARTICULAR METHOD OR SCHOOL OF THOUGHT. SPECIAL DIRECTIONS OF RESEARCH INCLUDE THE PROCESS OF SOCIALIZATION AND THE JUVENILE'S SEARCH FOR IDENTIFY (INCLUDING INSTITUTIONS WHICH AID IN THE PROCESS --SCHOOL, FAMILY, PEER GROUPS), FACTORS OF DISTURBANCE IN THE PROCESS OF SOCIALIZATION AND THE LEGAL PROTECTION OF JUVENILES, JUDICIAL AND EDUCATIONAL INTERVENTION THROUGH THE AGENCIES OF SOCIAL CONTROL, TRAINING AND BEHAVIOR OF THE REPRESENTATIVES OF SOCIAL CONTROL, AND EVALUATION OF THE SUCCESS OF COURT INTERVENTION. ONE OUTSTANDING FEATURE OF THE CENTER IS THAT THEORY IS INTIMATELY CONNECTED TO PRACTICE. THUS, THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF RESEARCHERS AND SOCIAL CONTROL AGENTS, RESEARCH RESULTS ARE INCORPORATED INTO THERAPEUTIC AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR JUVENILE DELINQUENTS. AT THE SAME TIME, NEW FORMS OF DEVIANT BEHAVIOR ARE STUDIED TO DEVELOP APPROPRIATE FORMS OF INTERVENTION. FINALLY, THE CENTER IS AN IMPORTANT INSTIGATOR FOR LEGAL AND EXTRA-LEGAL REFORMS OF CRIMINAL POLICY. THE ARTICLE INCLUDES A BIBLIOGRAPHY. --IN FRENCH. (SAJ)