recidivists
Chronic law breakers
Recidivists are people who repeatedly commit crimes or fall back into undesirable behavior after punishment or treatment.
The term appears most often in criminal justice contexts: Recidivists account for a disproportionate share of violent crime.
It can extend beyond crime to any relapse into bad habits: dietary recidivists who can't stay away from sugar.
Person repeatedly convicted
- reoffendingCommitting crimes again
- habitual criminalPersistent repeat offender
- chronic offenderHabitual lawbreaker
- reconvictionBeing convicted again
recurrence · relapse · backslider · career criminal · criminality · lawbreaker · felon · convict
Confinement for offenders
- inmateConfined facility resident
- cellblockPrison housing unit
- penitentiaryFacility for convicted criminals
- correctional facilityInstitution housing convicted offenders
convict · jailbird · detention · confinement · lockup · custody · solitary · warden
Frequency of offenses measured
- public safetyCollective welfare from threats
- crime preventionStopping offenses before occurrence
- legislationOfficial enactment of statutes
- policymakingCreating official guidelines
criminal justice reform · risk assessment · monitoring · sentencing reform · prison reform · cost-benefit analysis
Strategies against returning symptoms
- reintegrationRestoration to a group
- behavioral therapyPsychotherapy targeting observable actions
- substance abuse treatmentCare for addiction disorders
- counselingProfessional guidance for problems
therapy · recovery · vocational training · life skills · mentoring · case management · transitional housing · support groups
Self-reinforcing economic disadvantage
- unemploymentBeing without paid work
- substance abuseHarmful habitual intoxicant use
- mental illnessDisorder affecting cognition or mood
- homelessnessLacking permanent residence
broken homes · socioeconomic factors · gang involvement · trauma · stigmatization · lack of support · social exclusion · family dysfunction
repeat offender
Person repeatedly convicted
- reoffendingCommitting crimes again
- habitual criminalPersistent repeat offender
- chronic offenderHabitual lawbreaker
reconviction · recurrence · relapse · backslider · career criminal · criminality · lawbreaker · felon · convict · perpetrator
prison
Confinement for offenders
- inmateConfined facility resident
- cellblockPrison housing unit
- penitentiaryFacility for convicted criminals
correctional facility · convict · jailbird · detention · confinement · lockup · custody · solitary · warden · sentence
crime rates
Frequency of offenses measured
- public safetyCollective welfare from threats
- crime preventionStopping offenses before occurrence
- legislationOfficial enactment of statutes
policymaking · criminal justice reform · risk assessment · monitoring · sentencing reform · prison reform · cost-benefit analysis
relapse prevention
Strategies against returning symptoms
- reintegrationRestoration to a group
- behavioral therapyPsychotherapy targeting observable actions
- substance abuse treatmentCare for addiction disorders
counseling · therapy · recovery · vocational training · life skills · mentoring · case management · transitional housing · support groups · anger management
poverty cycle
Self-reinforcing economic disadvantage
- unemploymentBeing without paid work
- substance abuseHarmful habitual intoxicant use
- mental illnessDisorder affecting cognition or mood
homelessness · broken homes · socioeconomic factors · gang involvement · trauma · stigmatization · lack of support · social exclusion · family dysfunction
- prisonersprisoners, inmates, convicts, felons, jailbirds
- returnersalumni, repatriates, prodigals, homecomers, repeat customers