Criminologists, lawmakers, policymakers, educators, and others discuss juvenile delinquency and recidivism and note the relationship to adult offending and cost factors. Poverty, peer relations, family life, and school are risk factors that have been linked to define the problem of juvenile crime. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the stories that successful graduates of residential programs shared regarding their experiences while in treatment. Nine young adults (aged 18 to 23) who had satisfied their court-ordered sanctions in different residential facilities and who had successfully completed their aftercare supervisions were purposely selected as participants. Data were collected through audio taped interviews. Verbatim transcriptions were coded to discover themes, patterns, or clusters of meanings using NVivo software. Participants discussed the impact of counselors, negative and positive aspects of their programs, peer relationships, and their own responsibilities. Counselors had major impacts on how participants perceived their programs and were looked upon as the rationale for why some youth succeed and others fail. Participants discussed the negative aspects of their educational programs, teachers, and staff and provided positive insights regarding their programs including the programs' environments, educational services, and program events. This study explored a social reality that continues today. When society establishes a critical look at the juvenile justice system and qualitatively assesses and determines key factors for success, perhaps a consensus for endorsing methods for reducing juvenile delinquency and recidivism can be reached. Appended are: (1) Program Descriptors; (2) Participant Demographic and Delinquent History; and (3) Interview Protocol.