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Simple English definitions for legal terms
Prior(s)
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A quick definition of Prior(s):
Term: Prior(s)
Definition: When someone has done something wrong before, we call it their "prior(s)." This word is often used by police officers and judges to talk about someone's past criminal record, which includes times when they were arrested or found guilty of a crime. If someone has a lot of priors, they might get in more trouble for a new crime they commit.
A more thorough explanation:
Definition: “Prior(s)” is a slang term often used in the law enforcement community to refer to an individual’s previous criminal record, generally including convictions and arrests. Prior convictions may result in harsher penalties under various state and federal sentencing guidelines.
Example: The judge took into account the defendant's prior convictions when determining their sentence for the current offense.
Explanation: This example illustrates how a person's prior criminal record can impact their punishment for a new offense. The judge may consider the defendant's past convictions and arrests when deciding on a sentence, which could result in a harsher penalty.