What is a potential effect of a harsher sentence based on criminal history?

A potential effect of a harsher sentence based on a criminal's history is that it may discourage future crimes. When offenders face stronger penalties due to their previous convictions, it sends a clear message that repeat offending will not be tolerated and will come with significant consequences. This could deter not only the individual from offending again but also others who may be aware of the stricter punishments for habitual offenders.

The idea behind this is rooted in deterrence theory, which suggests that increasing the severity of punishment can lead to a decrease in crime rates, as individuals may think twice before engaging in criminal behavior when they understand the potential severity of their punishment.

While other options may contain elements of truth in different contexts, they do not directly address the deterrent effect that harsher sentences can have on potential and repeat offenders. For example, promoting rehabilitation is often a goal of the justice system, but relying solely on harsher sentences might not effectively lead to rehabilitation. Similarly, the assertion that it could lead to more victimless crimes does not directly stem from the concept of harsher sentences linked to criminal history, and the claim that it always results in reduced crime rates is too absolute and neglects the complexity of criminal behavior and societal factors.