Sociology 2267A/B Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Status Offense, Truancy
1 Oct 2018
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Document Summary
We view youth delinquents differently than adults criminals. If a youth breaks the law, we generally view that person as immature and in need of our guidance and help. If an adult breaks the law, we generally view that person as someone who is responsible for his or her behavior and deserves to be punished. A status offense is a violation because of the juvenile status of the offender. Running away from home, truancy, incorrigibility, violating curfew are all examples of status offenses. If committed by an adult, they would not be a violation. The state felt it necessary to regulate the lives of youth more closely than adults. Status offense laws were taken quite seriously until the late 1960s and early. Especially likely to be enforced against females: these laws came under heavy criticism in the 1960s and 1970s. The poor, minority, and female youth were more likely to be punished for such offenses.
