True or False: A youthful offender can be sentenced as an adult in some circumstances.

The statement is true because, in many jurisdictions, laws allow for youthful offenders—typically defined as individuals under a certain age, often 18—to be tried and sentenced as adults under specific circumstances. Such circumstances may include the severity of the crime, the offender's prior criminal history, or the age of the offender at the time of the offense.

The principle behind this approach is often based on the belief that certain violent or serious crimes indicate that the youthful offender poses a significant risk to society or shows a level of maturity that warrants adult judicial consequences. This practice aims to balance rehabilitation opportunities for young offenders with public safety concerns, allowing the justice system flexibility in handling serious cases involving minors.