Objective: To understand the meaning of being institutionalized and in conflict with the law for the institutionalized adolescent.
Method: A qualitative, phenomenological-comprehensive study carried out in a Socio-educational Service Foundation in the northern region of Brazil, with 05 institutionalized adolescents. The analysis was carried out under the understanding of the content suggested by Heidgger, thus allowing the construction of analytical categories for a hermeneutical interpretation.
Results: Conflicting with the law means something negative and bad for the institutionalized adolescents, in which they understand that although there is deprivation of liberty, the period of hospitalization is an important moment for the reflection on the need to start over.
Conclusion: The meaning of conflicting with the law goes far beyond a simple word, act or behaviour, it is something that only those who experience the phenomenon are able to unveil, arouse deep feelings and provide reflection to the adolescent about the damages caused by the infraction.