Cite as: 10A CNCA § 2-5-202

A. For the purposes of the Youthful Offender Act:

1. "Youthful offender" means a person:

a. thirteen (13) or fourteen (14) years of age who is charged with murder in the first degree and certified as a youthful offender as provided by Section 2-5-205 of this title,

b. fifteen (15), sixteen (16), or seventeen (17) years of age and charged with a crime listed in subsection A of Section 2-5-206 of this title, and

c. sixteen (16) or seventeen (17) years of age and charged with a crime listed in subsection B of Section 2-5-206 of this title,

2. "Sentenced as a youthful offender" means the imposition of a court order making disposition of a youthful offender as provided by Section 2-5-209 of this title which shall constitute an adult criminal sentence if the youthful offender is transferred to the custody or supervision of the contracted detention facility; and

3. "Next friend" means an individual or executive of an organization who has assumed a parental role without formal legal proceedings, but to all objective observers is readily identified as custodian or guardian in fact.

B. It is the purpose of the Youthful Offender Act to better ensure the public safety by holding youths accountable for the commission of serious crimes, while affording courts methods of rehabilitation for those youths the courts determine, at their discretion, may be amenable to such methods. It is the further purpose of the Youthful Offender Act to allow those youthful offenders whom the courts find to be amenable to rehabilitation by the methods prescribed in the Youthful Offender Act to be placed in the custody or under the supervision of the Department of Juvenile Justice for the purpose of accessing the rehabilitative programs provided by that Office.

Historical Data

LA 11-21, eff. March 15, 2021.