In the offense of coercing, inducing, or soliciting membership in a Criminal Street Gang or Foreign Terrorist Organization, a 'child' is defined as someone who is

• A. Younger than 17
• B. Exactly 17
• C. 18 or older
• D. 19 or older

Answer: (A)

This question tests how the statute defines a “child” for the offense of coercing, inducing, or soliciting membership in a gang or foreign terrorist organization. The law specifies that a child is someone younger than 17. That means a person who is 16 qualifies as a child, while a person who is 17 or older does not. The reason for this cutoff is to protect the younger end of the juvenile population who may be more vulnerable to coercion and recruitment, by setting a precise age boundary in this provision. So, the correct interpretation is that a child in this context is someone younger than 17.