Juvenile Delinquency

This topic covers the causes and consequences of juvenile delinquency, as well as intervention and prevention programs.

What does the term "juvenile delinquency" refer to?

Quote: "Juvenile delinquency, also known as juvenile offending, is the act of participating in unlawful behavior as a minor or individual younger than the statutory age of majority."

How is a juvenile delinquent defined in the United States?

Quote: "In the United States, a juvenile delinquent is a person who commits a crime and is under a specific age."

Which states in the US have raised the maximum age for a juvenile delinquent?

Quote: "In 2021, Michigan, New York, and Vermont raised the maximum age to under 19, and Vermont law was updated again in 2022 to include individuals under the age of 20."

Which three states still consider someone under the age of 17 as a juvenile delinquent?

Quote: "Only three states, Georgia, Texas, and Wisconsin still appropriate the age of a juvenile delinquent as someone under the age of 17."

When did Japan lower the age for a juvenile delinquent?

Quote: "This change occurred on April 1, 2022 when the Japanese Diet activated a law lowering the age of minor status in the country."

How does the minimum age for a child to be considered a juvenile delinquent vary in different US states?

Quote: "The minimum age for a child to be considered capable of delinquency or the age of criminal responsibility varies considerably between the states."

Which states have recently changed their minimum age for juvenile delinquency?

Quote: "In 2021, North Carolina changed the minimum age from 6 years old to 10 years old while Connecticut moved from 7 to 10 and New York made an adjustment from 7 to 12."

What are some examples of delinquent acts committed by juveniles?

Quote: "Juvenile delinquents or juvenile offenders commit crimes ranging from status offenses such as, truancy, violating a curfew or underage drinking and smoking to more serious offenses categorized as property crimes, violent crimes, sexual offenses, and cybercrimes."

What factors can contribute to juvenile delinquent behavior?

Quote: "Many delinquent acts can be attributed to environmental factors such as family behavior or peer influence."

What is the school to prison pipeline?

Quote: "One contributing factor that has gained attention in recent years is the school to prison pipeline."

How does the construction of jails and prisons compare to the building of colleges in the US?

Quote: "According to Diverse Education, nearly 75% of states have built more jails and prisons than colleges."

How does the cost per inmate compare to the cost per student in most states?

Quote: "CNN also provides a diagram that shows that cost per inmate is significantly higher in most states than cost per student."

What is the recommended alternative to zero-tolerance policies?

Quote: "Some have suggested shifting from zero tolerance policies to restorative justice approaches."

What are common structures of the juvenile legal system?

Quote: "Juvenile detention centers, Juvenile courts, and electronic monitoring are common structures of the juvenile legal system."

How are offenses committed by minors usually addressed in the US legal system?

Quote: "Juvenile courts are in place to address offenses for minors as civil rather than criminal cases in most instances."

How does the use and structure of juvenile courts vary in the United States?

Quote: "The frequency of use and structure of these courts in the United States varies by state."

Can people under 18 be charged and treated as adults depending on the offense?

Quote: "Depending on the type and severity of the offense committed, it is possible for people under 18 to be charged and treated as adults." (Note: Due to the length of the provided paragraph, 17 study questions have been listed instead of 20.)