Juvenile Delinquency

Juvenile delinquency refers to unlawful behavior committed by a minor (i.e., a young person usually younger than 18 years of age), which if committed by an adult would be considered a crime and subject to prosecution in criminal court. When juveniles engage in such behavior, they typically fall within the jurisdiction of the juvenile court, which was founded with a beneficent and rehabilitative emphasis as well as a focus on taking developmental considerations into account when intervening in the lives of youth accused of violating the law.

This entry describes the prevalence of juvenile delinquency, how such prevalence rates are generated, and factors that influence the reporting of delinquency data. Furthermore, associated conditions are discussed, including several topics relevant to clinical and abnormal psychology such ...

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