This study examined the prevalence of reading problems and self-reported symptoms of attentional deficits in a sample of adjudicated adolescent males (N = 101) aged 12 to 18 years who were residing in an alternative sentencing residential program. Thirty-four percent of the youth had reading problems while only 9% of the boys had self-reported attentional deficits. An additional 10% of the youth reported experiencing both reading problems and attentional difficulties. Results indicated that male offenders with attentional deficits reported greater depression, reduced self-concept, and a more external locus of control at intake than male offenders with reading difficulties. Furthermore, male youth offenders with reading and attentional problems reported more depression, less positive self-concepts and a more external locus of control than did youth with reading problems only, but did not differ significantly from the group who only reported attentional problems. Overall, these findings exemplify the need for both educational and psychological interventions for youth entering the juvenile justice system. Psychological interventions for male offenders who self-report attentional difficulties may be particularly warranted. (Contains 2 tables and 1 figure.) [This research was supported by Grant No. 2001-SI-FX-0006, entitled USA Youth Violence Prevention Initiative, award by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Office of Justice Programs, U. S. Department of Justice.]