What does it mean when a juvenile is adjudicated?

When a juvenile is adjudicated, it means that a court has formally found the juvenile to be responsible for committing a delinquent act. This legal determination occurs after the juvenile has undergone a hearing where evidence is presented, and it is decided whether the allegations against them are substantiated. The term "adjudication" indicates that the legal process has reached a conclusion, and the adjudicated juvenile could face a range of consequences depending on the severity of the offense and the recommendations made by the court.

In this context, being adjudicated does not imply that the juvenile is released without charges, placed in a secure facility, or referred to community service, which are implications of the other choices. Each of those alternatives represents a different outcome within the juvenile justice system rather than the formal finding of responsibility that adjudication denotes. Therefore, the correct choice accurately signifies the legal outcome of the court's consideration of a juvenile's alleged actions.