The juvenile justice system in France has met with sharp criticism in the last 15 years. In this period the number of total interventions and the number of penalties for juveniles have increased while educational interventions have dropped. Court practices regarding penal sanctions and educative measures have varied widely from judge to judge. The center under study was founded in the 1960's to permit observation of multiple recidivists so that suitable measures of reeducation could be selected. Subjects studied consisted of about 750 boys aged 14 to 18 over a 6-year period. Data derive from institutional and court records. Examination of the clientele shows that most of the youths in the center are multirecidivists who have already engaged in a long career of illicit activities. Most subjects are from socioeconomically disadvantaged families, have suffered integration difficulties, and have experienced disturbances in school and work. Analysis of the juvenile population of the center indicates that placement there occurs for a variety of reasons. Examining magistrates generally place first offenders from both well-to-do and lower socioeconomic circumstances in the center as well as juveniles with complex offenses. Placements by juvenile judges include juvenile recidivists for whom educational measures have failed and those whose records already show previous institutionalization. Thus, for some of the center's population, the center represents the first contact with the juvenile justice system, while for others it is the confirmation of an already established criminal career. Although the center keeps an appreciable number of juveniles out of prison in the short term, 6 of 10 end up in prison eventually. Evidence suggests that the center has not served as a successful prototype for new juvenile policy but only temporarily interrupts juveniles' criminal development. As the institution is a prison substitute for difficult juveniles, it labels the youths sent there. The center's official function of observation often conflicts with its custodial role. Furthermore, regional courts make these diversionary placements without an overview of other decision points in the juvenile process. Because of these shortcomings, the institution is undergoing transformation to an establishment of reeducation. An appendix with graphs and a 2-item bibliography are supplied.