status offender

noun

: a young offender (such as a runaway or a truant) who is under the jurisdiction of a court for repeated offenses that are not crimes

Word History

First Known Use

1975, in the meaning defined above

Legal Definition

status offender

noun

: a person who commits a status offense

especially : a juvenile under the jurisdiction of the court because of status offenses that indicate the child is beyond parental control compare juvenile delinquent, youthful offender