juvenile delinquent

A juvenile delinquent is a minor who is tried and found guilty of a crime in a juvenile court. Laws can vary, but minors are usually persons under 18 years of age. While minors are typically charged in juvenile court, some offenses are too serious, so the minors are instead charged as adults. If the minor is charged and convicted as an adult, they are not considered a juvenile delinquent but instead an offender

[Last updated in August of 2023 by the Wex Definitions Team