Which of the following best describes the term "status offense"?

The term "status offense" refers specifically to actions that are deemed unlawful only due to the age of the person committing them. These offenses are not considered crimes when committed by adults. Examples include truancy, curfew violations, and underage drinking. Since these actions are not criminal for adults, they encapsulate the idea of a status offense, where the legality is tied to the offender's age rather than the nature of the action itself.

In contrast, other choices describe distinct categories of offenses that do not align with the definition of a status offense. Actions illegal for adults encompass various crimes that apply universally regardless of age. Crimes against property refer to illegal acts that involve interference with someone else's property and can apply to all age groups. Violent crimes specifically relate to offenses that involve harm or threat of harm to individuals and do not focus on the age of the offender as a factor. Thus, the unique characteristic of status offenses is their dependence on the age of the individual, making the third option the most accurate description.