You have just been appointed by the governor as a chairperson of a newly formed group charged with overhauling the state's juvenile justice system.One primary concern is the treatment of status offenders--kids who have been picked up and charged with being runaways, sexually active, truant from school, or unmanageable at home.Under existing status offense statutes, these youth can be sent to juvenile court and stand trial for their misbehaviors.If the allegations against them are proven valid, they may be removed from the home and placed in foster care or even in a state or private custodial institution.

Recently, a great deal of media attention has been given to the plight of runaway children who live on the streets, take drugs, and engage in prostitution.At an open hearing, advocates of the current system argue that many families cannot provide the care and control needed to keep kids out of trouble and that the state must maintain control of at-risk youth.

They contend that any status offenders have histories of drug and delinquency problems and are little different from kids arrested on criminal charges; control by the juvenile court is necessary if the youths are ever to get needed treatment.

Another vocal group argues that it is a mistake for a system that deals with criminal youth also to handle troubled adolescents, whose problems usually are the result of child-abuse and neglect.They believe that the current statute should be amended to give the state's department of social welfare (DSW) jurisdiction over all non-criminal youths who are in need of assistance.These opponents of the current law point out that, even though status offenders and delinquents are held in separate facilities, those who run away or are unmanageable can be transferred to more secure correctional facilities that house criminal youths.Furthermore, the current court-based process, where troubled youths are involved with lawyers, trials, and court proceedings, helps convince them that they are "bad kids" and social outcasts.

Questions:

1. Define a status offender.
2. Define a juvenile delinquent.
3. Do you believe that status offenders should be treated differently than juvenile delinquents?Are status offenders a " different type" of criminal than other juvenile offenders? (i.e. violent offenders, drug)Explain your reasoning.
4. Contrast the treatment of juvenile delinquents with status offenders.
5. Is it fair to institutionalize a minor simply for being truant or running away from home?
6. Are behavioral problems better handled by a social service or mental health agency than a juvenile court?
7. How does the juvenile justice system rationalize its involvement with status offenders?
8. Explain the "debate" over the future of the status offense concept.What are the issues with regard to the status offense concept? What are the two sides?
9. Why is this debate of importance to the field of juvenile justice?
10. What are its implications?
11. What recommendations would you make to the governor?