Status Offenses

Abstract—Status offenses constitute 20% of juvenile arrests annually and have been identified as early indicators of potential delinquency. This paper examines the consequences of institutionalizing status offenders, highlighting its counterproductive outcomes, and advocates for rehabilitation-focused alternatives. Institutionalization often exacerbates underlying personal and systemic issues, increasing recidivism and antisocial behavior. By exploring policy variations across states and emphasizing developmental perspectives, this study proposes community-based interventions as a more effective and humane solution to address status offenses. Index Terms—Status offenses, juvenile justice, institutionalization, rehabilitation, community-based programs, recidivism, developmental needs, policy discrepancies, economic implications.