U.S. Department of Justice, Office Of Justice Programs, Innovation - Partnerships - Safer Neighborhoods
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), Serving Children, Families, and Communities
OJJDP Statistical Briefing Book logo jump over products navigation bar
OJJDP Statistical Briefing Book logoAbout SSBFrequently Asked QuestionsPublicationsData Analysis ToolsNational Data SetsOther ResourcesAsk a Question

Juvenile Population Characteristics
Juveniles as Victims
Juveniles as Offenders
Juvenile Justice System Structure & Process
Law Enforcement & Juvenile Crime
Juveniles in Court
Juveniles on Probation
Juveniles in Corrections
Juvenile Reentry & Aftercare
Special Topics
Data Snapshot
Statistical Briefing Book Home

OJJDP logo

Printer-priendlyPrinter-friendly
Juveniles in Court
Petitioned Status Offense Cases
Q: How many petitioned status cases are handled by juvenile courts?
A: In 2018, an estimated 101,400 petitioned status offense cases were handled in juvenile court.

Estimated number of petitioned status offense cases, 2018

Most serious offense Number
of cases
Percent change
2009-2018 2014-2018 2017-2018
Total* 101,400 -42% -13% -3%
Runaway 9,600 -40% -10% -2%
Truancy 62,400 -15% 6% -2%
Curfew 5,200 -72% -52% -18%
Ungovernable 8,100 -55% -23% 3%
Liquor law violations 10,700 -72% -44% -17%

* Includes other offenses not shown.

Note: Percent-change based on unrounded numbers.

[ CSV file ]

  • Status offenses are acts that are illegal only because the persons committing them are of juvenile status.
  • The juvenile court caseload for petitioned status offenses declined 42% between 2009 and 2018.
  • Truancy cases accounted for the majority (62%) of petitioned status offense cases disposed in 2018.


  • See also: What types of violations constitute a status offense in each state?

Internet citation: OJJDP Statistical Briefing Book. Online. Available: https://www.ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/court/qa06601.asp?qaDate=2018. Released on March 31, 2020.

Data Source: National Juvenile Court Data Archive. National Center for Juvenile Justice. Pittsburgh, PA.

 

USA.gov | Privacy | Policies & Disclaimers | FOIA | Site Map | Ask a Question | OJJDP Home
A component of the Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice