JUVENILE JUSTICE VOCABULARY
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Delinquent - ANSWER-Person under age 18 who has broken the law.
Crime - ANSWER-Act committed in violation of a law that is punishable by fine or
prison sentence
Status Offense - ANSWER-An act that is illegal only because the child is underage.
Disposition - ANSWER-For juvenile offenders, the court's decision about what will
happen to the offender. The equivalent of sentencing for adult offenders.
Offense - ANSWER-Act that violates the law. In Juvenile Court, used instead of the
term crime.
Juvenile Hearing - ANSWER-A step in court procedure where the court hears
information and makes a decision.
Sentence - ANSWER-The penalty for breaking a criminal law.
Guilty - ANSWER-Person charged with breaking the law admits or is found to have
committed the act.
Delinquency Petition - ANSWER-The formal document that starts a juvenile case
and describes child's illegal behavior.
Criminal Record - ANSWER-The list of a person's convictions. This can prevent a
person from getting some jobs, volunteering, serving in military, obtaining public
housing, obtaining gun permit, and can increase penalty for a future crime.
Juvenile Record - ANSWER-The list of offenses committed as a juvenile. Although
information is private in most cases, the information can have an impact on getting
some jobs, volunteering, military service, obtaining public housing, obtaining gun
permit, and can increase penalty for a future crime.
Trial - ANSWER-A court process to determine if someone committed a criminal act
or caused another person a loss.
Charge - ANSWER-A formal statement accusing someone of wrongdoing or criminal
activity.
Arrest - ANSWER-Action when a person is deprived of his or her freedom because
police believe person has committed a crime.
Taken into Custody - ANSWER-When police capture juveniles who are suspected of
committing a delinquent act or a status offense.
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Delinquent - ANSWER-Person under age 18 who has broken the law.
Crime - ANSWER-Act committed in violation of a law that is punishable by fine or
prison sentence
Status Offense - ANSWER-An act that is illegal only because the child is underage.
Disposition - ANSWER-For juvenile offenders, the court's decision about what will
happen to the offender. The equivalent of sentencing for adult offenders.
Offense - ANSWER-Act that violates the law. In Juvenile Court, used instead of the
term crime.
Juvenile Hearing - ANSWER-A step in court procedure where the court hears
information and makes a decision.
Sentence - ANSWER-The penalty for breaking a criminal law.
Guilty - ANSWER-Person charged with breaking the law admits or is found to have
committed the act.
Delinquency Petition - ANSWER-The formal document that starts a juvenile case
and describes child's illegal behavior.
Criminal Record - ANSWER-The list of a person's convictions. This can prevent a
person from getting some jobs, volunteering, serving in military, obtaining public
housing, obtaining gun permit, and can increase penalty for a future crime.
Juvenile Record - ANSWER-The list of offenses committed as a juvenile. Although
information is private in most cases, the information can have an impact on getting
some jobs, volunteering, military service, obtaining public housing, obtaining gun
permit, and can increase penalty for a future crime.
Trial - ANSWER-A court process to determine if someone committed a criminal act
or caused another person a loss.
Charge - ANSWER-A formal statement accusing someone of wrongdoing or criminal
activity.
Arrest - ANSWER-Action when a person is deprived of his or her freedom because
police believe person has committed a crime.
Taken into Custody - ANSWER-When police capture juveniles who are suspected of
committing a delinquent act or a status offense.
