Abstract
The definition of a "status offender," and the proper way to handle those children labelled as "status offenders," has become a great concern in recent years. Those who oppose placing children accused of status offenses in "detention" centers argue that the child's constitutional right of due process is being violated; that the juvenile court's intervention is both ineffective and inappropriate; and that a private agency would be better able to deal with the child's problems. Others argue that the government does have a right to control the behavior of juveniles and that these children are only brought before the court after all other alternatives have failed. This article offers a new definition of a status offenders definition which looks at how the child came to be confined, not who he is-and discusses the usefulness of this new definition.
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