Advocates of general or specific deterrence support a recidivism premium on the grounds that recidivists are more likely to reoffend and need stronger disincentives. Incapacitationists argue that longer detention is required for offenders with a greater likelihood of reoffending. Most just deserts theorists support a limited sentencing discount for first offenders. State and Federal sentencing guideline systems in the United States attach great importance to criminal history information, but there is considerable diversity in the way different sentencing guideline systems define and limit the use of previous convictions. Policy issues related to the use of criminal history information are explored, including definitions of what should be included in a criminal record, the use of juvenile adjudications, the duration of previous convictions, and the question of whether previous criminal misconduct should ever be completely effaced. Alternative ways of conceptualizing criminal history are examined. 124 references, 1 table, and 3 figures