Data were based on a literature review; court records; interviews with juvenile services professionals; and a review of the court histories of 491 alleged status offenders, followed from initial intake in 1981 through 1984. Under present State law, courts can respond to juvenile status offenses by intake assessment and counseling, custody orders, or one of several dispositions. The most common disposition is protective supervision, which establishes a counseling relationship between the child and a court counselor. For juveniles studied, running away was the most common offense, protective supervision was the most common disposition, and the majority of juveniles had no subsequent contacts with the court. The majority of professionals interviewed felt that the court's authority and court counseling services were beneficial for juvenile status offenders. Recommendations for improvement included greater coordination among community agencies, more training, and increased dispositional options. Additional data on processing of status offenders are provided in figures and 10 tables. 62 references and 10-item bibliography on causes of running away from home.