recidivist

American  

[ri-si-duhv-ist] / rɪˈsɪ dəvˌɪst /

noun

1. a person who returns to a previous behavior, especially by committing a subsequent crime after being punished for a previous one; someone who engages in recidivism.

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Explanation

Use the noun recidivist to describe someone who can't stop committing crimes — for example, a repeat shoplifter is a recidivist If you've got serious backsliding tendencies, this could be your next step: recidivist is tech-talk for "repeat offender." A recidivist is basically someone who can't help lapsing into previous bad behavior patterns, usually of the criminal kind. An inmate who is released from prison and immediately steals a car can be described as a recidivist.