Thousands of youth who run away from home, skip school, or engage in other risky behaviors, like underage drinking, are processed through the court system each year.  In Wisconsin, approximately 7,000 youth are arrested for truancy and running away each year.  Status offenses are a range of behaviors that are prohibited because of a youth’s age, things that if committed by an adult would not be something they could be arrested for.  It’s no surprise that youth committing status offenses are experiencing problems at home or in school that require services and programs to address underlying issues and a response that drags them deeper into the justice system is not the best solution.
A recent report by the Vera Institute of Justice’s Status Offense Reform Center makes the case for court diversion and community-based solutions.  Addressing youth’s behaviors at home and in their communities is more cost-effective and developmentally appropriate than placement in a correctional facility, particularly in status-offense cases as there is no risk to public safety.  Status-offense youth who receive appropriate community-based service are less likely to commit actual crimes and more likely to be successful in transitioning to adulthood.

The Coalition for Juvenile Justice in the fall released National Standards for the Care of Youth Charged with Status Offenses providing a comprehensive set of recommendations for system reform and investments that have proven to be successful.  Status offenders benefit from fast response to the presenting problems and engagement in the community.  Jurisdictions that have implemented effective diversion programs have seen promising reductions in court involvement and recidivism helping not only the youth but also the community.

Doing the right thing with status offending youth is not always easy.  It can be frustrating and challenge adult’s sense of needing to be in control.  Fortunately less so, but “teaching them a lesson” by locking them up with delinquents has not been an uncommon response – but one that can do more harm than good.                              By Emily Bergman