During the twentieth century the Brazilian State sought to reeducate the minors offenders by their insertion in centers built for this purpose. First based on Minor’s Rights [Direito do Menor] (1927), then through the Doctrine of the Irregular Situation [Doutrina da Situação Irregular] (1979), the offenders were priority subject for internment, because of their noticeable public disorder potential and as adult crime demand. Since the enactment of the Child and Teenager Statute [Estatuto da Criança e do Adolescente] (1990), educational measures in open regime was established aiming the reintegration of the offender to social life, presenting the shelter as a last option to be used. It is proposed to analyze the measures provided by law for accountability of child and youth people throughout the twentieth century, in Brazil and make some considerations about educational measures prescribed by actual law