juvenile delinquency
nounDefinition of juvenile delinquency
1
: conduct by a juvenile characterized by antisocial behavior that is beyond parental control and therefore subject to legal action
2
: a violation of the law committed by a juvenile and not punishable by death or life imprisonment
Keep scrolling for more
Examples of juvenile delinquency in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The boy was arrested on a charge of juvenile delinquency, to wit possession of a BB gun and unlawfully carrying a dangerous weapon. — Maria Lovato, BostonGlobe.com, "Boston police looking for a man with a gun instead found a boy with a BB gun, knife," 9 Aug. 2019 The day’s hearing, the ones listed on the docket include guardianship and juvenile delinquency cases. — Mary Jo Pitzl, azcentral, "These courts must protect kids' privacy. They also must be public. Can it be done?," 31 July 2019 Additionally, Bynoe had a 1991 juvenile delinquency adjudication for murder and unlawful possession of a firearm, where Bynoe gunned down two teenagers on a Roxbury street, according to the attorney’s office. — Danny Mcdonald, BostonGlobe.com, "Roxbury man indicted on drug trafficking, gun charges," 24 July 2019 For one of them, running saved him from juvenile delinquency. — Martin Fritz Huber, Outside Online, "The Coach Who Changed Running Forever," 7 June 2019 Perhaps the most famous example of this was legendary actress and singer Eartha Kitt’s famous January 1968 confrontation with first lady, Lady Bird Johnson at the White House during a luncheon that was supposed to be about juvenile delinquency. — Lucy Diavolo, Teen Vogue, "6 Legendary Vietnam-Era Anti-War Movement Protests Everyone Should Know," 3 May 2019 And Kate’s older brother, teenager Teddy (Judah Lewis), is falling into generic juvenile delinquency, which The Christmas Chronicles illustrates not by having him smoke or vandalize something but by having him steal cars. — Todd Vanderwerff, Vox, "Netflix’s The Christmas Chronicles introduces a Santa who can get it," 23 Nov. 2018 Getting children off to the right start pays off, reducing juvenile delinquency, addictions, school dropout rates, learning disabilities, obesity and other problems. — kansascity, "Jean Paul Bradshaw," 30 June 2018 Getting children off to the right start pays off, reducing juvenile delinquency, addictions, school dropout rates, learning disabilities, obesity and other problems. — kansascity, "Jean Paul Bradshaw," 30 June 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'juvenile delinquency.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more