In this study, we aimed to describe and characterize school trajectories of adolescents in conflict with the law with regard to their educational experiences. Six adolescent offenders and their respective guardians participated in the study. Information was collected in 22 educational institutions frequented by the adolescents since the beginning of their school lives, complementing the semi-structured interviews. Qualitative analysis indicated the existence of two patterns of school trajectories: one marked by discontinuity in the quality of school experiences, with a positive beginning that becomes negative; and another whose experience is predominantly negative from the beginning. Implications of these trajectories to the emergence and maintenance of delinquent conduct are discussed.
Teenager in Conflict with the Law; School Adjustment; Development
