Status Offense
Definition of Status Offense
Note: See a more comprehensive approach to the Status Offense legal concept in the American Law Encyclopedia
A kind of violation or offense that is defined by the character or condition of the offender. Vagrancy, for example, is a status crime. A vagrant is a person who has no visible means of support. Status crimes or offenses are most commonly used in connection with juvenile status. There are a number of things juveniles may do for which they can be placed under the authority of the juvenile court that have no adult counterpart. Such offenses as running away, truancy, or curfew violation are examples of status offenses. They derive from the offender's status as a minor. Status offenses are handled exclusively through state law and are elements of state juvenile codes.
See Also
Juvenile Process (Law of the United States).
Resources
Status Offense Related Resources
- Status Offense in the United States Legal Encyclopedia
- Criminal Judicial Process Keywords in the United States Legal Encyclopedia
- Criminal Process Keywords in the International Legal Dictionary
Notes
- “Status Offense”, The American Law Dictionary, 1991, California
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