W Minnesota » Status offense issues

Labeling, 2015

• In need of aid, assistance, or care

• In need of services

• In need of supervision

• Unruly

• Status offender

In Minnesota, status offense cases are classified as juvenile petty offenses and Child in Need of Protection or Services (CHIPS). Juvenile petty offense cases include juvenile alcohol offenses, drug offenses, and violation of ordinances which would be lawful conduct if committed by an adult. CHIPS cases include running away from home, habitual truancy, sexually exploited youth, or those found incompetent to proceed or has been found not guilty by reason of mental illness or deficiency in connection with a delinquency proceeding.  CHIPS cases also include dependency matters such as being without adequate parental care, abandonment, and physical, mental, emotional, or sexual abuse.

Age boundaries, 2016

In Minnesota, no lower age is specified for a “child in need of protection or services,” but a child cannot be adjudicated a “juvenile petty offender” until age 10. The highest age a child’s conduct can be considered a status offense is 17. Non-delinquent behaviors include: running away, truancy, committing delinquent or juvenile petty offense/s under age 10. Juvenile petty offenses (over age 10) include: certain child-only offenses related to alcohol, controlled substance/s, tobacco, and most other misdemeanors and ordinances. M.S.A. § 260b.007, § 260c.007

Reported data