California legal term
Status offense in California Criminal Law
Current through 2026 California legislative session
In California criminal law, “Status offense” is a term defined by statute rather than by its everyday meaning. Its statutory definition — quoted verbatim below — controls how the term is applied throughout the California criminal code.
What does “Status offense” mean in California criminal law?
“Status offense” means an offense that would not be considered criminal if committed by an adult, including, but not limited to, school truancy and incorrigibility. (Cal. Welf. & Inst. Code § 224.1)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.