Prohibiting Detention of Youth Status Offenders Act of 2024

This bill prohibits the secure detention of youth for "status offenses" - noncriminal behaviors like skipping school, underage drinking, running away, or curfew violations - by eliminating a 1980 exception (VCO exception) that allowed courts to detain youth for violating court orders related to these offenses. It requires states to stop using this exception within one year, limits any permitted detention to a maximum of 3 days per instance (up from 7 days), and restricts such detentions to no more than once every six months. The bill directly affects youth aged 14-17, who comprise most status offense cases, and addresses racial disparities where Black, American Indian, and Alaska Native youth are overrepresented, as well as girls who often engage in status offenses due to trauma. States may request a one-year extension if demonstrating progress toward compliance, but the core policy change ends secure detention for these noncriminal offenses.