Portfolio on Juvenile Status OffendersA juvenile status offender is a young person accused of an offense that is not considered a crime if committed by an adult; this would include, but not limited to, running away from home, curfew violations, underage drinking, truancy, or outside of parental control. Status offenders are not usually incarcerated on their first offense, but violating a court order can deem them delinquent which may result in placement in a correctional facility or detention. Juvenile crime statistics are collected from local law enforcement agencies by the FBI in order to better understand the nature and extent of juvenile crime in the United States. Youth crime statistics reflect arrest information and do not take into account unreported youth crime rates. Statistical juvenile crime rates have steadily declined since 1994, when crimes involving juveniles reached a record high. Since 1994, juvenile crime statistics have decreased by 47% (Juvenile Crime Statistics). The question many may ask is what causes juvenile status crimes; well, the answer has numerous possibilities. Many noncriminal behaviors are caused by an inadequate family environment, family functioning, school problems, or community problems. This portfolio aims to inform about offenders' risk factors, types of correctional and detention programs available, the juvenile justice system, prevention programs, guiding principles and treatment strategy. Ultimately, working together as a community should reduce youth crime rates. Profile and Risk Factors of a Juvenile Delinquent To determine whether a child may be at risk of becoming a delinquent, it is necessary to know what might cause him or her to act. Many children...... middle of paper...... Reading One-Eight, aXcess, ADJ/225- Juvenile Justice Course Website. Department of Juvenile Justice and Crime Prevention. Retrieved October 8, 2008, from http://www.ncdjjdp.org/resources/statistics_legislative/01-02/B&GClub_01-02.pdf Juvenile Crime Statistics. Retrieved October 8, 2008, from Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Office of Justice Programs. Retrieved October 19, 2008, from http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/181201.pdf National School Safety and Security Services. Warning signs of youth violence. Retrieved July 18, 2008, from http://www.schoolsecurity.org/trends/warning-signs.html Delinquency Prevention Works. 1995 (May). Washington, DC: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, U.S. Department of Justice. Retrieved October 19, 2008, from http://ojjdp.ncjrs.org/action/sec1.htm