How is a "recidivist" generally defined?

A "recidivist" is generally defined as a habitual criminal, someone who repeatedly engages in criminal behavior. This term is often used in the context of individuals who have a history of offending and, despite previous punishments or rehabilitation efforts, continue to commit crimes. Understanding the characteristics of recidivists is important in the fields of criminal justice and criminology, as it can help in developing strategies for prevention and rehabilitation.

The other choices represent different roles or categories in the legal context but do not align with the definition of recidivist. A first-time offender refers to someone who is committing a crime for the first time, while a victim of crime is the person who has suffered from a crime. An innocent bystander is someone who is present at a crime but is not involved in any criminal activity. Each of these terms has its distinct meaning that does not relate to the repeated acts of criminal activity encapsulated in the term "recidivist."