A status crime is a crime of being rather than a crime of doing. Examples of status crimes include addiction, homelessness, prostitution, or even belonging to a certain minority group. The distinction with other crimes is that individuals are not caught in the act of a crime. For example, a cocaine addict would not be caught taking, in possession of, or with drugs in his system but simply be convicted due to reputation or confession.
Status crimes are no longer enforceable in the United States due to unconstitutionality since the mid-1800s and have largely ended in most countries.
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