Status offenses are a second classification of youthful offender also known as wayward minors. A status offender is a child subject to state authority by reason of having committed an act forbidden to youth and illegal solely because the child is underage (e. g. underage drinking, underage smoking, truancy, running away, being disobedient, etc.)The literature supports females finding themselves in the juvenile justice system as a result of a status offense.

Adefendant charged with driving while intoxicated pleaded not guilty and insisted on a trial. right before the trial began, he fired his attorney and decided to defend himself. at one point during opening arguments, the defendant began to act like a cat, meowing and chasing an imaginary squirrel out of the courtroom. if no one else raises the issue of the defendant's competency to stand trial, what is the responsibility of the trial judge here? a) the trial judge has no responsibility, because the defendant decided to defend himself. b) the trial judge has no responsibility, because she cannot decide whether the defendant is competent to stand trial. c) the trial judge must raise the issue of competency, because the defendant is representinghimself.d) the trial judge must raise the issue of competency, because the constitution obligates her to do.