Which term describes a category of offenses that can apply to juveniles but not adults, such as truancy or curfew violations?

• A. Juvenile offense
• B. Status offense
• C. Minor offense
• D. Infraction

Answer: (B)

Status offenses are acts that are illegal only because the offender is a juvenile. Truancy and curfew violations fit this category: an adult who misses school or breaks a curfew isn’t charged as committing a crime in the same way, because the law treats these behaviors as issues tied to juvenile status rather than general criminal conduct. This distinction is what makes the term the right one for offenses that can apply to juveniles but not adults.

The other terms don’t capture this juvenile-specific concept. A “juvenile offense” isn’t a standard legal category on its own; a “minor offense” is a general label for small violations and does not imply age-specific legality; an “infraction” is a type of non-criminal violation that can apply to people of any age and usually carries fines rather than criminal penalties.