Judicial Perspectives on the Deinstitutionalization of Status Offenders in the United States with Recommendations for Policy and Practice, National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges

In its 2012 Technical Assistance brief, NCJFCJ urges judges to use their inherent powers to develop alternative methods to addressing a youth’s status offending behaviors without resorting to formal court involvement and placing a youth in secure confinement.  NCJFCJ recommends convening representatives from various systems that impact a particular youth including schools to develop a plan that allows the youth to remain in his community.  The organization recommends the development of a comprehensive report which reflects the exhaustion of other remedies and community-based services and includes an individualized plan developed by appropriate agencies to address the needs that may have led to or contributed to the status offending behaviors.