What is a potential consequence for status offenders in regard to legal shelter?

Status offenders are individuals, typically minors, who engage in behavior that is considered unlawful only because of their age, such as truancy or running away from home. In dealing with status offenders, the legal system often aims to provide rehabilitation rather than punishment.

Keeping status offenders in nonsecure shelters is aligned with the philosophy that these individuals should receive guidance and support rather than face the harsher consequences often reserved for more serious juvenile offenders. Nonsecure shelters provide a structured environment that allows for supervision and intervention while still offering the youth a degree of freedom and autonomy, as they are not confined in a traditional detention facility. This setting is more conducive to addressing the social and emotional issues that may contribute to their offending behaviors.

The options regarding choosing living arrangements and having no restrictions imply a level of autonomy that does not align with the typical interventions set for status offenders. Detaining these individuals in secure confinement would also contradict the rehabilitation focus of the juvenile justice system, especially for cases that do not involve criminal behavior. Thus, the requirement for status offenders to be kept in nonsecure shelters reflects the system's intention to address their needs in a supportive rather than punitive manner.