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Young Offender Definition:
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Young persons who, in many states, are treated differently than adult criminals and are tried in special youth courts.
Related Terms:
Age of Majority,
Child,
Minor,
Adult,
Adult Child
Designation of minors or specified young age groups, but not adults, who have been found guilty of a crime and who because of their young age, qualify for reduced sentences.
Previously, in Canada, they were known as juvenile delinquents.
In Canada, for example, criminal suspects between 12 and 18 inclusively are processed under the Young Offenders Act, which includes several provisions which reflect the rehabilitative nature of the legislation.
Now, since 2003, the name of the law has been changed again: this time to the Youth Criminal Justice Act (the 2007 version is published at canlii.org/ca/sta/y-1.5/).
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