A youthful offender is a legal term used to describe an adolescent who has committed a crime but is granted special status to avoid the full consequences of a criminal conviction. Instead of being tried in an adult court, a youthful offender will typically be tried in a juvenile court. This status is designed to protect the young person’s future prospects by preventing a permanent criminal record and providing an opportunity for rehabilitation.
Youthful offenders may take some responsibility for their unlawful behavior but are not sentenced as adult criminals. In some states, like California, suspects under 18 years old cannot be tried in an adult court unless they have committed specific violent crimes, such as murder, kidnapping with bodily harm, or rape with force. In these cases, the suspects could be tried in an adult court.
Youthful offenders may participate in correctional programs as a replacement or supplement to criminal punishment. Some programs created for youthful offenders include substance abuse treatment, mental health treatment, or training to learn skills in specific fields.
See also juvenile delinquent, juvenile justice.
[Last updated in July of 2024 by the Wex Definitions Team]