juvenile delinquency

[ostap77]

What does it mean juvenile crimes? Does it refer to serious crimes or minor ones?

 

[5jj]

Juvenile in law refers to the age of the perpetrator, not to the nature of the crime. In other contexts, juvenile can mean childish, immature.'

 

[Ouisch]

In AmE, juvenile deliquency refers to crimes committed by juveniles. At one time, that meant anyone under the age of 18. However, in the past 20 years or so, the crimes committed by some youngsters have been so horrific that many states have lowered the age at which a child or teen can be tried in court as an adult. So these days the term "juvenile delinquent" describes a minor involved in a lesser crime, such as shoplifting, drug possession, vandalism, etc. Juveniles who commit murder, rape or armed robbery are considered "criminals," not "delinquents."

 

[ostap77]

In AmE, juvenile deliquency refers to crimes committed by juveniles. At one time, that meant anyone under the age of 18. However, in the past 20 years or so, the crimes committed by some youngsters have been so horrific that many states have lowered the age at which a child or teen can be tried in court as an adult. So these days the term "juvenile delinquent" describes a minor involved in a lesser crime, such as shoplifting, drug possession, vandalism, etc. Juveniles who commit murder, rape or armed robbery are considered "criminals," not "delinquents."

Delinquency or deliquency?

 

[Munch]

Delinquency or deliquency?

That "deliquency" is a mistake - the correct word is "delinquency".