- contributing to the delinquency of a minor
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n. The offense of an adult causing or encouraging a minor to become involved in delinquent or illegal activity, to engage in conduct in the presence of a minor that is likely to lead to delinquent or illegal activity by the child, or to otherwise encourage a minor's disregard for the law.See also juvenile delinquent, corruption of a minor.
Webster's New World Law Dictionary. Susan Ellis Wild. 2000.
- contributing to the delinquency of a minor
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Any action by an adult that allows or encourages illegal behavior by a person under the age of 18, or that places children in situations that expose them to illegal behavior. Contributing to the delinquency of a minor can be as simple as keeping a child home from school and thus, making the child a truant. It also can manifest itself in more serious behavior. For example, an adult who commits a crime in the presence of a child can be charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor, as can an adult who serves alcoholic beverages to anyone under the legal drinking age. Still more egregious is sexual exploitation, which could include having sexual relations with minors or engaging in the production or trafficking of child pornography.
Dictionary from West's Encyclopedia of American Law. 2005.
- contributing to the delinquency of a minor
-
Any action by an adult that allows or encourages illegal behavior by a person under the age of 18, or that places children in situations that expose them to illegal behavior. Contributing to the delinquency of a minor can be as simple as keeping a child home from school and thus, making the child a truant. It also can manifest itself in more serious behavior. For example, an adult who commits a crime in the presence of a child can be charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor, as can an adult who serves alcoholic beverages to anyone under the legal drinking age. Still more egregious is sexual exploitation, which could include having sexual relations with minors or engaging in the production or trafficking of child pornography.
Short Dictionary of (mostly American) Legal Terms and Abbreviations.
