General Principles Affecting the Interstate Movement of Juveniles
As an initial matter, the general principles affecting the interstate movement of juveniles are anything but general. Juveniles occupy a unique position in our legal system—sometimes adults, frequently not; at once capable of committing crimes and yet subject to special procedures in the resolution of cases. Therefore, it is difficult to identify a set of universal principles applicable to juvenile delinquents and status offenders when it comes to their interstate movement. Moreover, parental rights issues in many states specifically add a dynamic not applicable in the adult setting. This is a constantly evolving area of law that defies generalizations and for every general principle there is most likely a host of exceptions. See Section 3.1 infra. Unlike adults, who clearly commit crimes and fall under a wide array of statutes and principles governing their interstate movement, juveniles simply present a more amorphous problem. Practitioners are strongly encouraged to consult regularly with available legal resources.