| Petitioned Status Offense Cases |
| Q: |
How many petitioned status offense cases are handled by juvenile courts? |
| A: |
In 2020, an estimated 57,700 petitioned status offense cases were handled in juvenile court. |
Estimated number of petitioned status offense cases, 2020
| Most serious offense |
Number
of cases |
Percent change |
| 2011-2020 |
2016-2020 |
2019-2020 |
| Total* |
57,700 |
-59% |
-44% |
-32% |
| Runaway |
6,500 |
-49% |
-35% |
-21% |
| Truancy |
33,400 |
-44% |
-43% |
-33% |
| Curfew |
2,800 |
-79% |
-53% |
-25% |
| Ungovernable |
4,800 |
-70% |
-47% |
-34% |
| Liquor law violations |
6,000 |
-75% |
-50% |
-22% |
* Includes other offenses not shown.
Note: Percent-change based on unrounded numbers.
It is important to note that 2020 was the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which may have impacted policies, procedures, and data collection activities regarding referrals to and processing of youth by juvenile courts. Additionally, stay-at-home orders and school closures likely impacted the volume and type of law-violating behavior by youth referred to juvenile court in 2020.
[ 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 59% between 2011 and 2020.
- Truancy cases accounted for the majority (58%) of petitioned status offense cases disposed in 2020.
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=2020.
Released on January 10, 2023.
Data Source: National Juvenile Court Data Archive. National Center for Juvenile Justice. Pittsburgh, PA.
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