Repeat offender - repeat offender

A criminal who has a habit of repeatedly committing a certain crime. They are also called persistent criminals or habitual criminals. They are divided into habitual criminals and professional criminals. The Criminal Code includes the crime of habitual gambling, and special laws such as the Law for the Prevention of Theft, the Law for the Punishment of Violence, and the Narcotics Control Law have provisions for habitual offenders, with increased penalties. Although offenders often fall into recidivism, it is possible to be recognized as a habitual offender even if they are not a recidivist. They are characterized by early onset and aversion to work. Because they pose a high social danger and their habitual habits are difficult to correct, there are examples of legislation that adopts indefinite sentences and security measures. The revised Criminal Code draft considers the adoption of indefinite sentences for repeat offenders who are recognized as habitual offenders (habitual recidivism).

[Shuichi Susuki]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

一定の犯罪を反復して行う習癖のある犯罪者。固執性犯罪者、性癖犯罪者ともいう。慣習性犯罪者と職業犯罪者とに区別される。刑法には常習賭博(とばく)罪があり、特別法では、盗犯等防止法・暴力行為等処罰法・麻薬取締法などに常習犯の規定があり、刑が加重されている。しばしば累犯に陥るが、累犯でなくとも常習犯の認定は可能である。早発性・労働嫌忌を特徴とする。社会的危険性が高く、その習癖の矯正も困難なため、不定期刑や保安処分を採用する立法例もある。改正刑法草案は、常習者と認定された累犯者（常習累犯）に対し、不定期刑の採用を考慮している。

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