A status offense is a crime that would not be considered a law violation if committed by an adult.

Some examples of status offenses include truancy, curfew violations, and running away from

home. In the United States, status offenses are usually punishable by probation, community

service, or a short stint in a juvenile detention center. There are pros and cons to both

approaches. Informal handling of status offenses can be more lenient and allow minors to avoid

the formalities of the juvenile court system. But formal handling of status offenses can provide

more structure and accountability, which can ultimately lead to better outcomes for minors. So

which approach is best? There is no easy answer. Each case should be evaluated on its own

merits. But in general, the decision of how to handle a status offense should be made based on

what is best for the minor involved. There is much debate surrounding the question of whether

juveniles who have committed serious or violent crimes should be charged as juveniles in

juvenile court. Some argue that these offenders should be tried as adults in order to send a

message that such behavior will not be tolerated. Others contend that these juveniles should be

treated leniently due to their age and possible lack of maturity. There is much debate surrounding

the topic of juvenile offenders being tried as adults in criminal court. Some believe that these

offenders should be sentenced to adult prison, while others believe that they should be sentenced

to juvenile detention. The main argument for adult prison is that these offenders have committed

serious crimes and thus should be treated as adults. Furthermore, adult prison would provide

these offenders with the opportunity to receive the necessary rehabilitative services that they

need. The main argument against adult prison is that these offenders are not fully developed

mentally and thus are not able to understand the consequences of their actions. Furthermore,

adult prison would expose these offenders to hardened criminals which could further corrupt

them. The final decision on where a juvenile offender should serve their sentence depends on the
individual case. However, the decision should be based on what is in the best interest of the

offender and society.

References

Americanbar.org. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://www.americanbar.org/groups/litigation/committees/childrens-rights/articles/2016/should-

juveniles-be-charged-as-adults/

Schmalleger, F. (2019). Criminal Justice (13th Edition). Pearson Education (US).

https://yuzu.vitalsource.com/books/9780135209028