Youthful offender is under the age of 18.Under-age people (children or adolescents) accused of crimes, who are processed through a juvenile court and juvenile detention or prison facilities instead of regular court, jail, and prison. A court may have the latitude to try some young defendants as adults, particularly those who are repeat offenders who appear to be beyond rehabilitation and are involved in major crimes like murder, manslaughter, armed robbery, rape, or aggravated assault. A youthful offender can only receive a maximum prison sentence not to exceed a 25th birthday or some other limitation, and cannot get the death penalty.