A total of 189 subjects, 110 male and 79 female, were studied who ranged in age from 11 to 18 years. All subjects were from centers under the administration of the juvenile court in the province of Marcia, Spain. Each subject underwent individual and clinical psychological examination as well as psychometric and psychobiological studies. Information was obtained on the school background, history of maladjusted behavior, drug use patterns, and sociofamilial background. The examination concluded with an individual assessment, carried out independently by two tutors, of various areas of behavior (impulsiveness, peer sociability, conflict, and overall behavior during confinement). The analysis of sociofamilial variables showed subjects to be minors and adolescents from poor families with serious family problems. Among these families, 53.4 percent had five or more children. Of the adolescents, 28.6 percent had a background of parental separation, and 48.1 percent mentioned family conflicts including physical abuse. Regarding the history of social maladjustment, 41.1 percent of the adolescents had appeared in juvenile court on a previous occasion. Evaluations of behavioral areas revealed high levels of impulsivity in 56.1 percent of the subjects, conflict in 34.4 percent, and uncooperativeness in 32.8 percent. Overall, results showed a statistically significant association between scores on some of the tests used and variables related to familial and social maladjustment. Personality traits served to define a set of individuals with a characteristic profile, for whom unfavorable biographical events made integration in and adaptation to the established social milieu difficult. 18 references and 8 tables (Author abstract modified)