What term refers to children or adolescents who have committed criminal offenses?

The term that refers to children or adolescents who have committed criminal offenses is "juvenile offenders." This designation is commonly used within the legal system and social services to differentiate youths engaged in delinquent behavior from adult offenders. Juvenile offenders typically undergo a different legal process aimed at rehabilitation rather than punishment, reflecting the understanding that younger individuals have the potential for change and growth.

While the other terms—such as at-risk youth, delinquent minors, and child offenders—address related concepts, they do not specifically denote individuals who have committed criminal offenses. For example, at-risk youth may refer to those who are likely to engage in delinquent behavior due to various socioeconomic factors, but not all at-risk youth have committed crimes. Delinquent minors can signify youths who have engaged in illegal activities, but this could be seen as a less formal term. Child offenders is less commonly used and might imply a broader range of offenses, but in the context of established terminology, juvenile offenders is the most accurate and recognized term.