What does the term recidivism refer to?

The term recidivism specifically refers to the tendency of a convicted criminal to reoffend after having been previously punished for a crime. It is an important concept in the criminal justice system, as it helps to measure the effectiveness of rehabilitation programs and interventions designed to reduce repeat offenses. Recidivism rates are often used to assess the performance of probation and parole systems and the overall impact of various criminal justice policies on reducing crime. Understanding recidivism is crucial for probation officers, as they work to support offenders in making lasting changes to their behavior and reducing their likelihood of reoffending.