Sentencing as a youthful offender is possible for juveniles who have been transferred to adult court and for persons 18 years or older, so long as they are sentenced for an offense that happened before the Defendant’s 21st birthday. Sentencing as a youthful offender is still an adult sentence. However, placement within the Department of Corrections may be in a youthful offender facility or other similar minimum security prison as opposed to a hard-core offender prison. A person found guilty of a capital or life felony, however, is not eligible for youthful offender status.

After conviction, a Defendant may present facts to the Court to show why a youthful offender sentence should be imposed. If the Court believes such a sentence is appropriate, aside from placement in prison, the court may put a defendant on probation or community control and it may withhold adjudication of guilt, meaning the young offender will not have a criminal record. However, as a condition of probation the Court may require a period of incarceration in a county facility or community residential facility. Some youthful offenders may also be required to participate in a basic training program designed to instill self-confidence and self-reliance.

Basically, the youthful offender sentencing is designed to provide a method of control or punishment for a young offender who needs some form of close supervision without the harshness of a long-term prison sentence.