Chapter 6 - Juvenile Delinquency

Question 1

Legal definiton of delinquency

Answer 1

Delinquency is behavior against the criminal code committed by an individual who has not reached adulthood, as defined by state or federal law.

Question 2

Status offenses

Answer 2

Behavior that is not against the criminal code, but is prohibited only for juveniles (running away, violating curfew laws, and truancy)

Question 3

Conduct disorder

Answer 3

Diagnostic term used to represent a group of behaviors characterized by habitual misbehavior, such as stealing, setting fires, running away from home, skipping school, destroying property, fighting, being cruel to animals and people, and frequently telling lies.

Question 4

Antisocial behavior

Answer 4

Diagnostic term for habitual misbehavior, especially a behavioral pattern that involves direct and harmful actions against others

Question 5

Antisocial personality disorder

Answer 5

A diagnostic label reserved for adults, many if not most of whom displayed conduct disorders as children or adolescents and continued serious offending well into adulthood.

Question 6

Child delinquents

Answer 6

Juveniles between ages 7 and 12, who have committed a delinquent act according to criminal law. Overall, children younger than age 13 have comprised about 9 percent of all juvenile arrests.

Question 7

Categories of unlawful act committed by delinquents

Answer 7

1) Unlawful acts against persons
2) Unlawful acts against property
3) Drug offenses
4) Public order offenses
5) Juvenile status offenses