A DISCUSSION WHICH DEFINES THE STATUS OFFENDER AND REVIEWS THE ISSUES OF STATUS OFFENDER INSTITUTIONALIZATION AND JUVENILE COURT JURISDICTION PRECEDES A PAPER ON THE HISTORY OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM IN THE UNITED STATES. ANOTHER PAPER CONSIDERS THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM IN WASHINGTON STATE. OTHER DISCUSSIONS COVER THE STRUCTURE OF WASHINGTON'S PRESENT JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND THE POSITION OF STATUS OFFENDERS IN THAT SYSTEM. A REVIEW OF THE PROGRAMS FOR STATUS OFFENDERS IN INDIVIDUAL WASHINGTON COUNTIES IS FOLLOWED BY A FINAL PAPER WHICH PRESENTS OPPOSING VIEWPOINTS ON THE DETENTION AND INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF STATUS OFFENDERS AND ON JUVENILE COURT JURISDICTION, AND PROPOSALS FOR CHANGES. AUTHORS INCLUDE A RESEARCH ANALYST FOR THE WASHINGTON STATE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, THE DIRECTOR OF SKAGIT COUNTY JUVENILE COURT SERVICES, A RESEARCH EDITOR IN THE BATTELLE SEMINARS AND STUDIES PROGRAM, AND A JUVENILE SPECIALIST FOR THE WASHINGTON STATE LAW AND JUSTICE PLANNING OFFICE. TABLES AND FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. APPENDIXES PROVIDE ADDITIONAL MATERIAL ON JUVENILE COURT JURISDICTION OVER STATUS OFFENDERS, AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR THE SKAGIT COUNTY EDITION.