Nolo's Plain-English Law Dictionary

Need Professional Help? Talk to a Lawyer
Enter Your Zip Code to Connect with a Lawyer Serving Your Area

Prior(S): Slang for past convictions. A defendant with "priors" may face an enhanced sentence for a current offense, as happens when a defendant convicted of driving under the influence reoffends, thus earning the mandatory jail sentence provided for repeat offenders. In order to impose an enhanced sentence in a current case, the prosecutor must plead, or allege, the past conviction, and prove that it happened.