Which term describes a child who is not charged with a crime if the offense were committed by an adult?

• A. Nonoffender
• B. Traffic Offense
• C. Parent
• D. Status Offender

Answer: (A)

In juvenile law, some acts are illegal only because of the offender’s age. A status offense is an act that would not be a crime if an adult committed it. When a child commits such an act, they are described as a status offender, since the behavior is illegal due to being a minor, not because it would be criminal for anyone to do it. So describing a child who would not be charged with a crime if the offense were committed by an adult fits the term status offender. The other options don’t fit: a nonoffender is someone who didn’t commit an offense; a traffic offense is a category of violation not tied to the age-based distinction; a parent is unrelated.