This work had the objective to apprehend the content and structure of the social representations (RS) on adolescence, under the optics of social development assistants (ADS) for adolescents in conflict with the law and under social and educative confinement measures. Interviews were carried out with 40 educators of three units of Foundation for the Children and Adolescents, in which it was requested the participants to talk about the adolescence. The data were analyzed by the alceste software. The results show two adolescence representations: the "normal", characterized by a moment of transition, omnipotence and difficulties in the development process; and the "different", the transgressor, from a "dysfunctional family", whose representation serves as model for the conflicting interactions that lead to the infraction. ADSs demonstrate disbelief in the possibility of an educational work, considering the presupposed absence of a healthy family structure and the adolescents' "weakness." Progresses and resistances are intertwined.
adolescent in conflict with the law; social representation; human development