Security and Institutional Management

Youthful Offenders

Inmates sentenced or classified as youthful offenders are assigned to one of several designated youthful offender facilities.

How is an individual sentenced or classified as a youthful offender?

• The Court may sentence a person as a youthful offender if the crime was committed prior to his or her twenty-first birthday (F.S. 958.04).

• The Department of Corrections may classify an inmate as a youthful offender if he or she is 24 years old or under, with a sentence of 10 years or less. Vulnerable inmates who are 19 or under with a sentence of more than 10 years may also be classified as youthful offenders, if their safety would be jeopardized in an adult institution.

• During FY 96-97, 47 inmates were at some point classified in youthful offender status for protective reasons.

• Capital or life felons may not be classified or sentenced as youthful offenders.

• Youthful offenders who are ages 14-18 must be separated from youthful offenders ages 19-24.