What is a status offense in juvenile justice?

• A. An act that would be a crime if done by an adult.
• B. An act that would not be a crime if done by an adult (e.g., truancy).
• C. An act that is illegal for adults but not for juveniles.
• D. An act that would be punished by capital punishment.

Answer: (B)

Status offenses are acts that are illegal specifically because the person is a minor; if the same conduct were committed by an adult, it would not be a crime. A classic example is truancy: skipping school is against the law for a juvenile, but adults aren’t charged for missing school. So this kind of act triggers juvenile justice involvement as a status offense rather than as a crime that would apply to anyone. In contrast, acts like theft or vandalism are crimes regardless of age, so they’re not status offenses. The idea that an act is illegal for adults but not for juveniles isn’t how status offenses work, and capital punishment isn’t relevant to the concept.