| 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.
- 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.
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