Question

Repeat offender refers to a person

• A. who escapes from police arrest
• B. who supports another convict
• C. who threatens his family members
• D. who continues to commit the same offence

Hint:

To remember this, think of the prefix "Re-" (meaning again). A Repeat offender is someone who breaks the law repeatedly.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Concept: In criminal law and criminology, a person who commits crimes multiple times is referred to as a "repeat offender" or a "recidivist." This concept is important for sentencing, as many legal systems impose harsher penalties on those who demonstrate a pattern of criminal behavior.

Step 1: Defining Recidivism.
A repeat offender is someone who has been previously convicted of an offense and, after serving their sentence or being released, goes on to commit the same or a similar type of offense again. $\text{Repeat Offender} = \text{Past Conviction} + \text{New Commission of Offense}$

Step 2: Legal Consequences.
Most penal codes (including the Indian Penal Code) contain provisions for "enhanced punishment" for habitual offenders. For example, under Section 75 of the IPC, if a person previously convicted of certain offenses is convicted again, they may be subject to a much longer term of imprisonment or even life imprisonment.

Step 3: Evaluating other options.

• Option A: This person is an "absconder" or is "escaping from lawful custody."
• Option B: This person might be an "abettor" or an "accessory."
• Option C: This relates to specific crimes like domestic violence, but doesn't define the "repeat" nature of an offender. Therefore, the core of being a "repeat" offender is the continuation or recurrence of criminal activity. Final Answer: Option D