Status offenses are noncriminal violations of the law committed by young people, such as breaking curfew or using tobacco. Juvenile courts handle these offenses, which are treated differently from criminal offenses. Different penalties are imposed, such as fines or counseling, and intervention programs are available to help young people experiencing personal, family, or school problems. Research has shown that habitual absences can lead to more serious criminal behavior.
Status offenders are young people accused of crimes that would not be crimes if committed by an adult. Legally, people who break laws prohibited only to certain groups are said to have status offences. Examples of these offenses – misconduct that is illegal for young people but not adults – include violating tobacco or alcohol laws, not attending school, breaking curfew laws, running away from home or being out of the control of parents. Research studies into the causes of status offenses have identified personal, family and school problems as contributing factors. Noncriminal violations of the law by adults such as speeding or illegal parking are also sometimes called state misdemeanors or regulatory offenses.
Juvenile courts handle status offences, which are treated differently from criminal offences. In 1961, the California legislature was the first to remove the noncriminal conduct of youth from its definition of delinquency. A new law that served as a model for subsequent state legislation, Section 601 of its Welfare and Institutions Code, was written to define and clarify juvenile status offenses.
Under most state codes, minors break laws governing the behavior of children or adolescents. Status offenses legislation does not cover those who commit offenses such as theft or robbery. Possession of a weapon by a minor is considered a status offence. Using a gun in a crime, however, becomes a criminal offence.
Because so many juvenile offenders lacked criminal behavior, in the 1970s the US federal government mandated the decriminalization of behavior such as curfew violation, use of alcohol or tobacco products, truancy, or running away from home . Status offenders are not usually incarcerated in a juvenile justice facility. However, if court orders are repeatedly violated, juvenile offenders may be considered offenders.
Each state has different penalties for violators. Some communities and states impose fines or suspend youth driver licenses. Others require parents to seek counseling or attend parenting classes. The belief is that a more stable home environment will help reduce misbehavior by children or adolescents.
Numerous lawsuits have been found for status offenses. These include family problems such as domestic violence or abuse, school problems including school failure and non-attendance, and personal problems including drug use or chronic health problems. Many states have incorporated intervention programs to help young people experiencing these issues. Research has been conducted to see if status offenders translate into more serious violence or criminal behavior. While many don’t escalate their behavior, a 20-year longitudinal study found that teens with habitual absences were eight times more likely to become juvenile offenders than teens who aren’t.
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