The legal definition of contributing to the delinquency of a minor is to commit an act or omission that tends to make a child a juvenile delinquent. Most states have criminal laws in place that set forth similar definitions. For example, in California, a prosecutor must prove the following “elements of the crime” to successfully convict you of this offense: you committed an act or failed to perform a duty, and in doing so, you caused or contributed to causing a minor to become a delinquent child, a habitual truant, or a dependent of the juvenile court.