first offender; first-time offender
Legal term for a person who has committed a crime for the first time. Often contrasted with 再犯者 (repeat offender).
See also: 再犯者
First-time offenders often receive a suspended sentence.
The judge reduced the sentence considering that the defendant was a first-time offender.
Compound of 初 (sho, 'first') + 犯 (han, 'crime/offense') + 者 (sha, 'person').