Recidivism refers to the tendency of a person to relapse into criminal behavior after being punished or reformed. There are many synonyms for recidivism, including re-offender, repeat offender, habitual offender, chronic criminal, and relapser. Other terms that are related to recidivism include recidivate, recommit, and reconvict, all of which refer to the act of committing a crime again after being punished for a previous offense. While recidivists are often viewed as dangerous and difficult to rehabilitate, there is growing recognition that effective prevention and treatment programs can help reduce their reoffending rates and improve their chances of successful reintegration into society.