Get CS03-28. MISSOURI JUVENILE JUSTICE INFORMATION SHARING(MOJJIS) - Dss Mo

Status offenders have not committed an act that would be a crime if committed by an adult; delinquent youths have committed such an act.

Status offenses: Non-criminal offenses only applicable to children--for example, being truant, running away from home, possessing alcohol or cigarettes, or violating curfew. Truant: A young person who is absent from school without permission or authorization.

Under Missouri's juvenile detention point system, it takes a score of 15 points to get locked up. Most felonies are 11 points, 12 if it's against a person. A probation violation is one point. North County Police Cooperative Major Ron Martin said, “The point system, I believe was established about a decade ago.

A status offense is a noncriminal act that is considered a law violation only because of a youth's status as a minor. 1 Typical status offenses include truancy, running away from home, violating curfew, underage use of alcohol, and general ungovernability.

A status offense is an action considered illegal when committed by minors and not illegal when committed by adults. To put it another way, a status offense is something legal for grown-ups but not for children. Crimes considered juvenile delinquency are those that are illegal for both adults and minors.

There are only five status offenses recognized by Missouri law. They are: (1) truancy, (2) incorrigible child, (3) runaway child, (4) behavior or associations injurious to the welfare of the child and (5) the child is charged with an offense not classified as criminal or applicable only to children.