previous conviction 以前的定罪；前科

一般情况下，在刑事诉讼中对被告人的前科不能作为证据提出，但是如果被告人宣称自己具有良好品格〔good character〕，或者宣称检察官或某一控方证人品格不良，或者提供对共同被告人不利的证据时除外。在量刑中，被告人没有前科可以作为减轻处罚的情节考虑。但是，被告人有前科也并非都要加重处罚，除非其先前的犯罪具有使现在的犯罪更为严重的作用。

Previous conviction means a con- viction that was entered prior to imposing sentence on the current crime provided that the prior conviction is based on a crime committed in a separate criminal episode. “Previous conviction” does not include a conviction for a Class C felony, including an attempt or solicitation to commit a Class B felony, or a misdemeanor, unless the con- viction was entered within the 10-year period immediately preceding the date on which the current crime was committed.