prior convictions
Past guilty verdicts
Prior convictions are criminal offenses for which someone has already been found guilty.
In legal contexts, a defendant's prior convictions may affect sentencing, bail decisions, or credibility as a witness: The judge considered his prior convictions before setting bail.
Having priors often means harsher penalties for subsequent offenses.
- recidivismHabitual return to crime
- repeat offenderPerson repeatedly convicted
- precedentPrior authoritative example
- sentencingImposing legal punishment
- felonySerious criminal offense
criminal record · criminal history · stigma · rehabilitation · second chance · misdemeanor · discrimination · parole · plea bargain · court date · incarceration · probation · reintegration · marginalization · remorse · time served · trial · expungement
- repeat offendersrepeat offender, habitual offender, recidivist, habitual criminal, recidivism
- evidenceevidence, evidence bag, circumstantial evidence, proof, admissible
- sentencinglife sentence, life sentences, prison sentence, death row, consecutive sentences
- personal recordspersonal best, criminal record, PR, medical history, PB
- trial preptrial exhibits, witness prep, mock trial, witness list, voir dire
prior convictionsclean record
Absence of prior offenses
clean slate · spotless record · sealed record · first-time offender
prior, priors, priority, priorities, prioritize, prioritization, priory, conviction, convictions