The aim of this paper is to describe and understand how are established the relationships between offender adolescents and their families before, during and after the completion of socio-educational measures. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with four relatives of adolescents perpetrators of offenses. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed using a phenomenological approach. The relationship prior to the socio-educational measures was conflictive. It is noticed that the relatives were not present in the daily lives of the youngsters, since they had to work in order to meet the economic needs of the family. They felt overwhelmed and powerless concerning their children's behaviors. The period adolescents were in the institution is reported as a time of suffering, however, considered useful. The application of the measure seems to have offered some support to the adolescents and their families. There is a need to develop programs that offer support to these families.
family; socio-educational measure; adolescence