Years ago my brother worked with delinquent kids. His experience pretty much echos what several people here have said: in the vast majority of cases of delinquent kids, the parents were pretty much no apart of the kids life. Either the parent was too busy, in trouble with the law/drugs/alchohol themself, or plain just did not care. In only a few cases did he meet a parent that showed a real interest in helping their kid.

Also agree with MHall, a little discipline when needed is not a bad thing.

Kids have to learn respect and to take responsibility for their actions. That starts at home.

Andrew