Interim Findings from a Study of Responses to Runaway and Truancy Status Offenses

• In Event: Improving Outcomes for Youth in the Juvenile Legal System: Status Offenses, Community Supervision, and Workforce Development

Abstract

Objective: Status offenses, such as running away from home or skipping school, are not crimes, but behaviors that result in legal system response due to the age of the person in question. There is legislation to combat the institutionalization of youth for status offenses, but little is known about the specific local policies and practices used to address runaway and truancy status offenses. Understanding the extent and variation in these policies and practices is key to improving services for youth and reducing institutionalization. Data/Methods: To address this knowledge gap, we are fielding a survey of court administrators and a paired survey of youth serving organizations in the same jurisdiction as the court administrators to learn about responses to runaway and truancy status offenses and cross agency collaboration. Results/Conclusion: Our presentation will focus on initial findings from the survey documenting variation in practices across the country. Conclusion: These findings will aid in site selection for cases studies and the field’s understanding of local responses to runaway and truancy status offenses.

Authors

• Lily Robin, Urban Institute

• Erica Henderson, Urban Institute

• Susan Nembhard, Urban Institute

• Arielle Jackson, Urban Institute

• Ammar Khalid, Urban Institute

• Janine Zweig, Urban Institute