What does the term "status offense" refer to?

The term "status offense" specifically refers to actions that are considered offenses solely based on the age of the individual involved. These offenses typically include behaviors that are not unlawful for adults but are deemed inappropriate for minors. Examples of status offenses can include truancy, underage drinking, or curfew violations. The rationale behind designating these behaviors as offenses is rooted in the legal understanding that young people require guidance and protection, thus allowing for intervention by legal authorities.

The other options represent categories of crimes that apply broadly and are not dependent on the age of the perpetrator. Violent crimes against persons pertain to actions that inflict harm or threaten harm, property crimes involve unlawful activities against someone’s property, and federal offenses are crimes that are categorized under federal law, none of which hinge on the age of the perpetrator for their classification.