A minor curfew violation is an example of which type of offense?

• A. Status offense
• B. Felony
• C. Misdemeanor
• D. Infractions

Answer: (A)

A minor curfew violation is a status offense because it is illegal specifically because the person is a minor. The behavior would not be an offense for an adult in the same situation, since the rule targets the juvenile status rather than the act’s inherent seriousness. Status offenses are handled in the juvenile system and hinge on the juvenile status, not on the traditional adult crime categories. In contrast, felonies and misdemeanors classify offenses by severity for any offender, and an infraction is a minor violation often treated as a simple, non-criminal penalty; neither category captures the idea that the act becomes unlawful solely due to the person’s age. So the correct label is status offense.