q Texas » Status offense issues

Labeling, 2015

• In need of aid, assistance, or care

• In need of services

• In need of supervision

• Unruly

• Status offender

In Texas, status offense cases are classified as status offenders and include conduct that would not be a crime if committed by an adult, including truancy, running away from home, failure to attend school, curfew violations, and violations of the alcoholic beverages code.

Age boundaries, 2016

In Texas, a “status offender” must be at least 10 years old. The highest age a child’s conduct can be considered a status offense under original juvenile court jurisdiction is age 16. Non-delinquent behaviors or conditions include: running away, inhaling paint or glue, when expelled for violating school conduct code, prostitution, and electronic transmission of (sexual) depiction of a minor. The label includes those referred or transferred from other (adult) courts for fine-only and child-only misdemeanors and ordinance violations as “conduct indicating a need for supervision.” The term “status offender” is also used in Texas to describe offenses that are under original jurisdiction of (adult) municipal courts that may or may not have juvenile case manager programs. Municipal courts have jurisdiction over curfew, alcohol, truancy, and child-only violations that occur at age 17 or 18, which cannot be transferred to juvenile court. TX FAMILY § 51.02, 51.03

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