Convict

A convict is "a person found guilty of a crime and sentenced by a court" or "a person serving a sentence in prison". Convicts are often also known as "prisoners" or "inmates" or by the slang term "con", while a common label for former convicts, especially those recently released from prison, is "ex-con" ("ex-convict"). Persons convicted and sentenced to non-custodial sentences tend not to be described as "convicts".

The legal label of "ex-convict" usually has lifelong implications, such as social stigma and/or reduced opportunities for employment. The federal government of Australia, for instance, will not, in general, employ an ex-convict, while some state and territory governments may limit the time for or before which a former convict may be employed.

Historical usage

The particular use of the term "convict" in the English-speaking world was to describe the huge numbers of criminals, both male and female, who clogged British gaols in the 18th and early 19th century. Their crimes would today be regarded as petty misdemeanours (stealing small items or food), or are no longer in the criminal code (such as being in debt). Most of the punishments at this time were severe, with the death penalty (hanging) applied for fairly minor crimes. However, this ultimate sentence was often commuted to a lesser one, commonly for transportation (for 7 or 14 years, or for life) to the "colonies". Thus, in the British context, the term "convict" has come to refer in particular to those criminals transported overseas.

Convicts (band)

The Convicts are an American hip hop group. They released the 1991 hip hop album Convicts. The members include 3-2 and Big Mike. Mike left the group after impressing the leaders of Death Row Records and nearly signed with the label before being called by James Prince and asked to replace Willie D of the Geto Boys.

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Convicts (film)

Convicts is a 1991 film directed by Peter Masterson. It stars Robert Duvall and Lukas Haas.

Summary

A boy works with convicts on the sugarcane plantation of a senile Civil War veteran in 1902 Texas. From the Horton Foote play.

Cast

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