Discuss the argument for and against removing status offenses from state juvenile courts. What is your opinion on this issue?
What will be an ideal response?
Arguments for removing:
• Juvenile courts are already overwhelmed; need to concentrate on serious offenders.
• These are not major offenders—many kids skip school, drink alcohol, use drugs, and run away.
• Above behaviors should be dealt with by community programs rather than by official courts.
• Once brought before courts, kids are labeled, difficult to overcome that negative label.
• Disparity in who brought before court on status offenses: more girls than boys, for example; some racial groups more than others; more economically disadvantaged.
• Research indicates that most status offenders "age out" of their behaviors; those taken before courts less so.
Arguments for retaining:
• Status offenders rarely commit only status offenses; they also steal, burglarize, vandalize, therefore they should come under some official oversight, even though they are not charged with a criminal offense.
• They are more likely to be helped by being put through a program, like diversion, or a substance abuse program overseen by the court.
• Status offenders are often victims of adult crime (e.g., runaways may be abused within family or on the streets). The juvenile system can be a protective factor.
• Keeping status offenders within the purview of juvenile courts allows us to gather some statistics on the extent of these problems, particularly running away.
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