THE STUDY WAS BASED ON A SAMPLE OF 45 YOUTHS INCARCERATED IN A DETENTION CENTER IN ENGLAND. THE RESEARCH STRATEGY WAS TO EMPLOY PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION AS A PRIMARY TECHNIQUE, SUPPLEMENTED WITH INTERVIEWS, QUESTIONNAIRES, OFFICIAL DOCUMENT ANALYSIS, AND LETTERS WRITTEN AND RECEIVED BY STUDENTS. SUBJECTS WERE OBSERVED DURING THEIR PERIOD OF INCARCERATION AND AFTER THEIR RELEASE. AMONG THE TOPICS INVESTIGATED ARE THE YOUNG OFFENDER'S VIEW OF HIS CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES IN THE CONTEXT OF HIS SOCIAL LIFE-STYLE, THE JUVENILE'S ATTITUDE TOWARD POLICEMEN BEFORE CONVICTION AND AFTER RELEASE, HIS FEELINGS OVER A PERIOD OF TIME IN THE INSTITUTION, HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE STAFF, AND HIS VIEWS ON HIS FELLOW INMATES AND SOCIAL WORKERS. IN ADDITION, THE AUTHOR EXAMINES THE PROCESSES BY WHICH THE YOUNG OFFENDER FIRST SEEKS TO BECOME PART OF THE PRISON CULTURE AND THEN SEEKS TO READJUST TO LIFE OUTSIDE OF DETENTION.