first offense
Debut criminal act
A first offense is an illegal act committed by someone with no prior criminal record.
The phrase typically appears in legal contexts where sentencing guidelines distinguish between repeat offenders and those facing charges for the first time: The judge was lenient because it was a first offense.
First-time offenders often receive reduced penalties, probation, or diversion programs.
- misdemeanorLesser criminal charge
- violationBreaking of rules
- juvenileYoung person or animal
- juvenile courtTribunal for minor defendants
- probationSupervised trial period
warning · slap on the wrist · leniency · traffic court · court · judge · sentence · plea · plea bargain · citation · ticket · arrest · charge · hearing · parole · record · clean record · clean
- school disciplinesuspension, expulsion, detention, corporal punishment, paddling
- criminal recordrap sheet, criminal history, convictions, felony, misdemeanor
- DUIdrunk tank, implied consent, field sobriety test, breathalyzer, BAC test
- Sentencing Factorsmitigating factors, aggravating factors, extenuating circumstances, criminal history, prior record
- speeding finesticket, citation, penalty, fixed penalty, demerit points
- copyright crimesinfringement, piracy, counterfeiting, unauthorized copies, digital piracy
first offenserepeat offense
Subsequent same crime
recidivism · multiple offenses · prior conviction · reoffense
first, offense, firstly, offend, offender, offenders, offenses, offensive, offensively