What are status offenses? How does the juvenile justice system rationalize its involvement with this type of offense?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

The Juvenile Court Act recognized a second classification of youthful offender, the wayward minor or status offender, a child who is subject to state authority by reason of their having committed an act forbidden to youth and is illegal solely because the child is considered "under age", e.g underage drinking, underage smoking, etc.

State control over a child's noncriminal behavior supports the parens patriae philosophy, because it is assumed to be in the best interests of the child. Usually, a status offender is directed to the juvenile court when it is determined that his parents are unable or unwilling to care for or control him and that the adolescent's behavior is self-destructive or harmful to society.