What term is often used in criminal justice to describe individuals who frequently reoffend?

The term commonly used in criminal justice to describe individuals who frequently reoffend is "recidivists." Recidivism refers to the tendency of a convicted criminal to fall back into criminal behavior after serving their sentence. It captures the cycle of reoffending, emphasizing the repeat nature of their criminal activity. This term is significant in discussions about rehabilitation, sentencing reform, and the effectiveness of criminal justice interventions.

While "offenders," "convicts," and "repeat offenders" may relate to individuals who engage in unlawful activities or have been convicted, they do not specifically convey the idea of recurring criminal behavior as effectively as "recidivists." "Repeat offenders" is a closely related term but is typically used more informally and does not possess the specificity of "recidivists," which is established in more formal criminal justice contexts.