User:JB3R2BOO/Juvenile delinquency

Article Draft

Lead

Juvenile delinquency, also known as juvenile offending, is the act of participating in unlawful behavior as a minor or individual younger than the statutory age of majority. In the United States of America, a juvenile delinquent is a person who commits a crime and is under a specific age. Most states specify a juvenile delinquent as an individual under 18 years of age while a few states have set the maximum age slightly different. In 2021, Michigan, New York, and Vermont raised the maximum age to under 19, and Vermont law was updated again in 2022 to include individuals under the age of 20. Only three states, Georgia, Texas, and Wisconsin still appropriate the age of a juvenile delinquent as someone under the age of 17. While the maximum age in some US states has increased, Japan has lowered the juvenile delinquent age from under 20 to under 18. This change occurred on April 1, 2022 when the Japanese Diet activated a law lowering the age of minor status in the country. Just as there are differences in the maximum age of a juvenile delinquent, the minimum age for a child to be considered capable of delinquency or the age of criminal responsibility varies considerably between the states. Some states that impose a minimum age have made recent amendments to raise the minimum age, but most states remain ambiguous on the minimum age for a child to be determined a juvenile delinquent. In 2021, North Carolina changed the minimum age from 6 years old to 10 years old while Connecticut moved from 7 to 10 and New York made an adjustment from 7 to 12. In some states the minimum age depends on the seriousness of the crime committed. Juvenile delinquents or juvenile offenders commit crimes ranging from status offenses such as, truancy, violating a curfew or underage drinking and smoking to more serious offenses categorized as property crimes, violent crimes, sexual offenses, and cybercrimes.

References

• Source: The United States Department of Justice Archives. (2020, January 16). "38. 'Juvenile' Defined"
  • This is a publication that reports updated facts regarding legislation and contains reliable data.

• Source: National Conference of State Legislatures. (2021, April 8). "Juvenile Age of Jurisdiction and Transfer to Adult Court Laws"
  • This is a government website which contains written definitions and explanations of laws so it can be trusted.
• Source: National Governors Association. (2021, August 12). "Age Boundaries In Juvenile Justice Systems"
  • This is a publication that reports updated facts regarding legislation and contains reliable data.
• Source: Japan Today, (2022-01-04) "Revised Civil Code and Juvenile Law in April to lower legal age of adulthood to 18"
  • This is a popular magazine which should contain updated information about the changing laws concerning juvenile delinquency in Japan.

• Source: Nippon.com. (2021, 05-21). "Japan's Juvenile Law Amended for Tougher Penalties"
  • This source is a popular magazine stating the updated laws in Japan for juvenile delinquency behavior and should be a reputable source.

• Source: The Mainichi. (2021, May 22). "Editorial: Concerns remain over amendment damping Japan juvenile law's rehab principles"
  • This is a daily newspaper that should be reliable and contains information on juvenile delinquency policy updates in Japan.
• Source: National Conference of State Legislatures. (2022, January, 31). "Juvenile Justice 2021 Year-End Report"
  • This is a government site with reputable information concerning the laws in all states.
• Source: Impact Law. (2022). "Juvenile Crimes"
  • This is a site that provides protection for juveniles and cites legal information about juvenile crimes.