When Emerson was younger, they smoked marijuana and consumed alcohol with their friends. They also shoplifted a few times and drove a car without a license. Today, Emerson has a successful career and has never been arrested as an adult. With regard to their status of criminal activity, Emerson is BEST described as a(n): A. life-course-persistent offender.
B. criminal mastermind.
C. adolescence-limited offender.
D. accidental offender.
The correct answer is C. adolescence-limited offender.
Explanation: Adolescence-limited offenders engage in criminal behavior during their teenage years but typically do not continue these behaviors into adulthood. In Emerson’s case, their past activities such as smoking marijuana, drinking alcohol, shoplifting, and driving without a license occurred during their youth, and they now have a successful career without any run-ins with the law as an adult. This pattern fits the description of adolescence-limited offending.