This research is an investigation of some factors associated to homicides committed against adolescents, at the city of Ribeirão Preto (SP), in which, during the period of 1995-1998, 101 children and adolescents were killed. The collect and analysis of data were made throughout the association of the following methods: sociographics data enrollment, analysis of taken lawsuits in the local prosecuting counsel; participant observation of the local internment institution, destined to adolescents authors of infraction acts; interview with intern adolescents for homicide acts (n=8). As a result one may state that the life conditions that ends on death of adolescents are product of a synchronization of factors, where, besides the fragility of institutions, one may observe determinants the dispute for appropriation of goods, conflict of financial interests, drug traffic and, a mode of producing of interpersonal relationship, of which resolution of conflictive situation materializes in non mediate and violent ways.
Homicide; adolescence; violence; drug traffic