Glossary

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Status Offense: A status offense is something that is a crime due to the young age of the perpetrator. Failure to attend school is only an offense for people between the ages specified in state law, often 6 through 16 or 17. Consumption of alcohol or tobacco is another status offense; it is illegal under age 21, but legal thereafter. Likewise one can only be a “runaway” under age 18; after that, one has simply left home.