Which of the following is commonly considered a status offense?

• A. Burglary
• B. Curfew violation
• C. Assault
• D. Theft

Answer: (B)

Status offenses are acts that are illegal specifically because the person is a minor, not because the conduct would be illegal for adults. A curfew violation fits this idea perfectly: it makes it unlawful for a minor to be out during certain hours, while adults can often be out after curfew without any violation. So the conduct is only a crime because of the juvenile status.

The other examples—burglary, assault, and theft—are crimes that apply to people of any age. They involve property or personal harm and are prosecutable regardless of whether the offender is a minor or an adult, so they aren’t status offenses.