Basic Corrections Officer: Certification Study Guide

An offender is defined as a person who has been convicted of a crime and may be committed to custody because this definition encapsulates the legal status of individuals who have gone through the judicial process and received a guilty verdict for their actions. In this context, the term "offender" typically refers to those who have violated criminal laws to such an extent that they face potential imprisonment or other forms of correctional supervision, whether in juvenile or adult systems. In contrast, the other options do not fit the legal criteria for being classified as an offender. Committing a minor traffic violation does not necessarily equate to being an offender in the criminal sense unless it results in a criminal conviction. Not being arrested or having only committed a juvenile offense also do not meet the necessary legal standards that define someone as an offender in terms of adult criminal law. Therefore, the correct definition clearly aligns with the implications of a criminal conviction and possible custody.