Essay On Status Offenses

In a list you make in your report specifically identify the status offense laws that are being violated by each of the underage teenage violators.
Status offenses are the illegal acts committed by juveniles that normally would not be considered a criminal act if done by an adult. A juvenile is defined as a person who is less than the age of 18 years old. There are typically five types of status offenses, which include truancy (skipping school), incorrigibility (beyond the control of parents), running away, use or possession of tobacco (or cigarettes), curfew violations, and underage alcohol consumption or possession (Champion, 2013).
In the juvenile justice system, status offenses are often viewed as being a precursor to more serious delinquency

acts and, therefore, the supervision of juveniles appears to be an effective tool in regulating juvenile crimes and preventing worse offenses. In the stated case, the following offenses that are being violated are curfew laws, smoking of tobacco violation by the juvenile female, and under-age consumption of alcohol by the male juveniles.
Identify how you are going to process at the scene each of the underage teenage kid violators, then explain in detail why you made your decision to handle the status offense in that specific manner.
The responses by police officers can be directly related to the juvenile’s demeanor at the time of questioning. Furthermore, if the juveniles display the proper amount of deference they will likely not be taken to the police station for further questioning or even be charged. Although being overly polite can also raise suspicions whether the juveniles are engaging in delinquent acts (Champion, 2013).
In this case, the three teenagers appear cooperative during questioning and I would contact their parents at the scene to come and pick up their children. If I were unable to get ahold of a parent or legal guardian then the juveniles would be brought to the police station and temporarily detained until a parent or legal guardian can pick them up.
While the detention of the three teenagers was brief, it will be recorded what each teenager was detained for, but will not result in official actions or involvement by the juvenile courts. In regards to the teenage girl, I will explain to her that although I am not issuing a citation for the curfew violation or possession of a cigarette, if she is caught again Illinois law states she can be charged with a petty offense that carries a fine and community service (Illinois General, 2016). The two boys will not be issued a citation for the curfew violation or possession of alcohol. But I will give them a stern warning that if they are caught again the penalties for possession of alcohol by a minor is a Class A Misdemeanor which carries a $500 fine, but can also result in loss of driving privileges in Illinois (Illinois Liquor, 2016)
Describe how you would handle any of the teenage status offense violators who is being uncooperative at the scene. How would this affect your decision on how to handle this status offense case?
If the teenagers we uncooperative I would likely bring them to the police station and temporarily detain them for further questioning, then write them a citation for their status offenses.

Depending on how aggravated I am or aggressive they are, I have the ability or discretion in how I want to handle the juveniles. If they had gotten physically abusive, this could result in a custodial arrest and possibly being transferred to a juvenile detention facility (Fuller, 2009). There are several situations that can occur based on the behavior of the child, frequency and seriousness of the offense, but usually stationhouse adjustments result with the juvenile being given a warning and released to their parents. Here is some of way I could handle a juvenile with a status offense (Champion, 2013):
• I can do nothing
• I can release them to their parents with an informal warning
• I can give a formal warning and/or arrest the juvenile and take them to the police station and release them to their parents
• I can also lay a charge against them with the status offense and they will have to appear in court by way of a notice or summons, and are released to their parents
• Or I can arrest the juvenile, charge them with violation, and they will be released to appear in court by way of summons, and released to the

parents
If you have one or more uncooperative parent who refuses to come to the scene and pick up their child would this affect your decision on how you handle the case, and if so what would you then do with the child?
I believe parents have the right to not pick up their kids and this should not have any bearing on how I decide to handle this case. If the juveniles were cooperative during questioning I would likely drive the child home in spite of the parent’s refusal to pick them up. They would be given a stern warning and released without any further incident. Or if the child were arrested, he would be detained in a non-secure facility or shelter until his detention hearing. I would attempt to notify the parent of the detention hearing information so they can be present (Youth Law, 2010).