CJJ Releases A National Survey of Status Offense Laws

Status offenses are behaviors that violate the law only because the person engaging in them has not yet reached the age of majority. Common examples of these behaviors include running away from home and skipping school. Currently, status offense laws vary greatly from state to state, with a broad range of terminology and definitions governing the issue.

CJJ is excited to publish "Status Offenses: A National Survey," which examines existing status offense laws across the 50 states and the District of Columbia. It details the legislative label that each state applies to status offense behaviors, the types of behaviors that fall within that label, diversion options that are available in the case, possible outcomes following adjudication, and whether the state uses the valid court order (VCO) exception or a 24-hour hold for youth who are detained for status offense behaviors. This brief may be used by judges, advocates, and legislators to assess national trends and gather ideas for system reform.

This brief was created as part of the Coalition for Juvenile Justice (CJJ)'s Safety, Opportunity and Success (SOS): Standards of Care for Non-Delinquent Youth Project. It should be used in conjunction with CJJ's National Standards for the Care of Youth Charged with Status Offenses and the Model Policy Guide