This latest volume in the Penal Theory and Penal Ethics series addresses one of the oldestquestions in the field of criminal sentencing: should an offender's previous convictions affect the sentence? Although there is an extensive literature on the definition and use of criminal history information, the emphasis here is on the theoretical and normative aspects of considering previous convictions at sentencing. Several authors explore the theory underlying the practice of mitigating the punishments for first offenders, while others put forth arguments for enhancing sentences for recidivists.

Julian V Roberts is Professor of Criminology at the University of Oxford and a Fellow of Worcester College. Andrew von Hirsch is Honorary Professor of Penal Theory and Penal Law at the University of Cambridge and an Honorary Fellow of Wolfson College.

1 Proportionality and the Progressive Loss of Mitigation: Some Further Reflections
Andrew von Hirsch
2 First-Offender Sentencing Discounts: Exploring the Justifi cations
Julian V Roberts
3 Recidivism, Retributivism, and the Lapse Theory of Previous Convictions
Jesper Ryberg
4 Repeat Offenders and the Question of Desert
Youngjae Lee
5 'More to Apologise For': Can We Find a Basis for the Recidivist Premium in a Communicative Theory of Punishment?
Chris Bennett
6 The Questionable Relevance of Previous Convictions to Punishments for Later Crimes
Michael Tonry
7 Prior-conviction Sentencing Enhancements: Rationales and Limits Based on Retributive and Utilitarian Proportionality Principles and Social Equality Goals
Richard S Frase
8 The Illusion of Proportionality: Desert and Repeat Offenders
Kevin R Reitz
9 Dimensions of Criminal History: Refl ections on Theory and Practice
Martin Wasik
10 The Role of Previous Convictions in England and Wales
Estella Baker and Andrew Ashworth
11 Previous Convictions and Proportionate Punishment under Swedish Law
Petter Asp
12 Assessing the Impact of a Recidivist Sentencing Premium on Crime and Recidivism Rates
Lila Kazemian