_____ means the mother or the father of a child, but does not include a parent whose parental rights have been terminated

• A. Nonoffender
• B. Parent
• C. Guardian
• D. Custodian

Answer: (B)

The term is the one that refers to the mother or father of a child with intact parental rights. A parent is the biological or adoptive parent whose rights and responsibilities toward the child are legally recognized; when parental rights are terminated, that person no longer holds the status of a parent in this sense.

Nonoffender describes a child who did not commit a delinquent act and isn’t about parental status. A guardian is someone given legal authority to care for a child, often by court order, and may be a non-parent or a parent acting in a different capacity. A custodian has care and control of a child, typically through an arrangement or court, but that role doesn’t define a parent.