STATUS OFFENDERS ARE DEFINED HERE AS YOUTHS WHO HAVE BEEN TAKEN INTO CUSTODY FOR BEHAVIOR THAT WOULD NOT BE CRIMINAL FOR ADULTS -- PRIMARILY RUNNING AWAY FROM HOME, TRUANCY, AND DISOBEYING PARENTAL OR OTHER AUTHORITY. ARTICLES ARE TAKEN FROM LAW REVIEWS, PUBLICATIONS OF NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS CONCERNED WITH THE PREVENTION OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY, AND WORKS OF THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION (ABA). SOME ADVOCATE REMOVING OF STATUS OFFENDERS FROM THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SPHERE AND PLACING THEM IN THE CARE OF SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES; OTHERS STRONGLY DISAGREE. AN INTRODUCTORY SECTION CONTAINS TWO ARTICLES WHICH DISCUSS THE GENERAL POLICY QUESTION OF WHETHER STATUS OFFENDERS SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE JUVENILE COURT, EACH PRESENTING A DIFFERENT OPINION. THE NEXT GROUP OF ARTICLES IS CONCERNED WITH STANDARDS FOR THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM'S HANDLING OF STATUS OFFENDERS, SOME RECOMMENDING A SEPARATE CATEGORY OF COURT JURISDICTION, OTHERS ADVOCATING COMPLETE REMOVAL FROM THE SYSTEM. THE ABA STANDARDS RELATING TO NONCRIMINAL BEHAVIOR ARE SUMMARIZED. ONE ARTICLE BRIEFLY DESCRIBES THE CURRENT STATE OF THE TREATMENT OF THESE OFFENDERS IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. CASE STUDIES ARE PRESENTED TO SHOW WHAT THE STATUS OFFENDERS ARE LIKE AND HOW THEY DIFFER FROM JUVENILE DELINQUENTS. THE SPECIAL PROBLEMS OF THE FEMALE STATUS OFFENDER ARE HIGHLIGHTED. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR POSITIVE CHANGES IN LEGISLATION, JUVENILE JUSTICE POLICIES, AND PROGRAMS ARE PRESENTED, INCLUDING DIVERSION TO COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS, IMPACTS OF THE DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION OF STATUS OFFENDERS, AND CHANGING THE SYSTEM WHILE RETAINING JURISDICTION OVER THIS GROUP. A DIRECTORY OF SELECTED COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS FOR STATUS OFFENDERS IS INCLUDED IN THIS SECTION. A SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY IS PROVIDED. (VDA)