youthful offender

American  

[yooth-fuhl uh-fen-der] / ˈyuθ fəl əˈfɛn dər /

Also youth offender

noun

1. a young delinquent, especially a first offender, usually from 14 to 21 years old, whom the court tries to correct and guide rather than to punish as a criminal.

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Example Sentences

The ruling made them eligible for parole under California's youthful offender law which allows those who committed crimes before the age of 26 to seek a reduced sentence.

From BBC

Since the brothers were under the age of 26 at the time of the murders, the reduced sentence made them eligible for parole under California’s youthful offender law.

From Los Angeles Times

County Superior Court Judge Michael Jesic modified the brothers’ original sentence of life without parole to 50 years to life, which under the state’s youthful offender law, makes the brothers immediately eligible for parole because the shootings happened before they turned 26.

From Los Angeles Times

Under the state’s youthful offender law, both are immediately eligible for parole because the shootings happened before they turned 26.

From Los Angeles Times

The brothers are eligible for parole under California's youthful offender law which allows individuals who committed crimes before the age of 26 to seek a reduced sentence.

From BBC

Related Words

• delinquent
• gangster
• hoodlum
• hooligan
• troublemaker