Legal Definitions - career offender

A career offender is someone who has committed many crimes, especially violent or drug-related ones. They can be punished more severely under the law. A first offender is someone who has never been convicted of a crime before and may be treated more leniently. A habitual offender is someone who keeps committing the same or similar crimes and can also face harsher punishment. A situational offender is someone who has only committed one crime and is not likely to do it again. A status offender is a young person who has done something wrong that is not a crime for adults, like skipping school. A youthful offender is a young person who has committed a crime and may have special programs available to help them turn their life around.