first offender

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The court heard that Allan had a significant criminal record, while co-accused Carlyle was a first offender.

From BBC • Dec. 9, 2024

The felony carries up to four years in prison but "no one gets jail time for that as a first offender," a New York law enforcement official told Yahoo News.

From Salon • Apr. 4, 2023

That means anyone convicted must serve their entire sentence, can’t be sentenced to probation as a first offender and can’t be paroled unless they have served at least 30 years in prison.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 6, 2023

Paul Hodgkins, a Florida man, was the first offender to be sentenced when he received eight months in prison in July for obstructing an official proceeding.

From Fox News • Sep. 3, 2021

The draper was inexorable, and as he had suffered much from petty thefts of late, had determined to make an example of the first offender whom he could catch. 

From Clara Hopgood by Rutherford, Mark