Previous good character

Evidence attesting to the reputation of a particular party involved in court proceedings.

Explanation attempts (116)

28 Oct 2012 15:50

A person who is on trial may be said to have 'previous good character' if he has no previous criminal convictions. This may be used by defendants and their representatives to show that it is less likely they committed the crime for which they are accused.

28 Oct 2012 20:02

A person who has committed an offence but has not committed an offence before

28 Oct 2012 23:11

Has in the past always shown themselves to be a good, loyal, honest, trustworthy person.

29 Oct 2012 17:34

Don't have a criminal record

30 Oct 2012 09:13

a person who had previously been a upstanding character who has since fallen short of the law...

30 Oct 2012 11:06

No criminal record and no references that state negative things about the person. But I'm not sure about the last bit - it might just mean no criminal record.

30 Oct 2012 13:16

A person of previous good character is somebody who is not known to have been in trouble prior to the current accusation/charge against him/her. First time offender.

30 Oct 2012 17:20

Haven't committed any previous crimes

30 Oct 2012 18:11

A distinguishing feature of an individual

31 Oct 2012 13:32

a person who has had no criminal convictions

31 Oct 2012 14:55

The person has done something that makes people describe them as a 'previous good character'. They used to do good things that made them a 'good character', but this no longer applies to them.

31 Oct 2012 16:04

someone who has never had any accusations made against them from any governing bodies or police. a person who does his/her bit for the community

31 Oct 2012 17:18

Up to now I have no criminal record.

31 Oct 2012 17:43

in the past they haven't been in trouble with the police and didn't have criminal record

31 Oct 2012 18:28

Suggest no prior legal issues or other social problems that might appear on a permanent record - suggests that whatever act or offence subject is guilty of commiting is a result of a unique instanceof aberant or 'out of character' behaviour

31 Oct 2012 18:30

This means that the defence has no previous criminal conviction and this term is used to support the defence in their case of being not guilty.

31 Oct 2012 19:06

someone who has no previous convictions or cautions for any offence

31 Oct 2012 22:19

Has not been in trouble with the police before.

31 Oct 2012 22:24

No previous convictions or cautions. A good upstanding member of thd community

1 Nov 2012 13:22

Someone who has no criminal record and is generally known as someone who lives within the law. The person would be someone who tries to be honest and moral.

1 Nov 2012 15:10

I think this means that an individual had not been held accountable for a particular crime in the past. In other words, their criminal record (up to now) is clean.

1 Nov 2012 17:33

If someone has committed no criminal offences in the past, then this means they have previous good character and this might give them less of a punishment.

2 Nov 2012 09:43

A reference to someone who who has spoken already as in parliament 'the right, honourable'

20 Nov 2012 22:57

Someone of "previous good character" would be someone who has no previous convictions, and is well thought of by people who know them.

20 Nov 2012 23:40

That a person, had in the past always behaved as society expected, i belive this may be said if a person commited a crime and wanted their previous life before the crime to be considered.

21 Nov 2012 01:40

No previous offences and able to provide character references from persons of good standing in the community.

21 Nov 2012 10:08

The person in question usually has no previous criminal record, or has character witnesses explaining how the event that has bought them to court is totally out of character.

21 Nov 2012 10:26

Before this happened, the person had not been in trouble with the law and was considered to be a person of good standing in their community

21 Nov 2012 12:05

Normally a perfectly law abiding person. Not just they they've never been caught before, but that they would be the last person one would expect to get in trouble with the law.

21 Nov 2012 13:53

In the past you have been a good person, and not been in trouble with the law.

6 Dec 2012 11:33

Having no criminal records or

24 Apr 2013 15:48

someone who has not been in trouble with the courts before

14 Nov 2013 18:05

no previous criminal records

14 Nov 2013 20:51

In history you have been seen/recognised to be judged to be what society deems to see as a good person

14 Nov 2013 21:06

The person has behaved well previously, e.g. he/she was very helpful when questioned previously

14 Nov 2013 21:25

Up until now the person is known to have a good character.

14 Nov 2013 22:19

That they were a better person before?

14 Nov 2013 22:35

A person who has never committed a crime in the past.

14 Nov 2013 23:12

This would mean that prior to the event or situation that is being currently examined, the defendant has 'previously' been of 'good character'. They did not have any reasons against them to suggest that they were anything other than normal. No previous convictions - a first offence.

15 Nov 2013 09:58

An individual with no previous convictions or criminal record.

15 Nov 2013 10:35

When the personality and actions of a person (often a defendant) are used as grounds for proving that a crime or statement is due to passion or unusual circumstances in the case of it being looked down upon, but as a grounds for reliable credibility in the case of giving witness.

15 Nov 2013 11:37

No previous criminal record known to the police of legal system and may be well-spoken of by others.

15 Nov 2013 16:00

Somebody with no past convictions or a 'black mark' against their name.

15 Nov 2013 23:25

That you haven't had a criminal record before/ haven't shown any displays of bad behavior prior to a certain instance.

16 Nov 2013 12:21

You don't have any record of bad behavior

16 Nov 2013 17:33

Someone who has committed a crime that has no criminal record, and so the crime is out of character

16 Nov 2013 20:30

A person who was of good character, and has now been led astray. No longer considered a good character.

16 Nov 2013 21:25

That the person up until now has had no convictions or committed any serious crimes. They may have had a few minor issues, eg, speeding offence, but generally a good person, sound and has acted in a good way.

16 Nov 2013 22:56

The person on trial or under investigation was considered to be an upstanding member of society with a good personality before they came under investigation

17 Nov 2013 14:09

The person hasn't been known to be violent in the past.

17 Nov 2013 16:48

I think it means someone who used to be considered 'good' but for some reason now isn't considered that way in the eyes of the law.

17 Nov 2013 17:08

From what is known of the person in question, I do not know anything that would suggest they are a bad character.

17 Nov 2013 17:17

I would say this that up to the present moment the person has not been involved in any activities deemed against the law.

17 Nov 2013 17:20

Someone who has never committed a crime before and therefore has no criminal record.

17 Nov 2013 18:21

was once a good person

17 Nov 2013 18:43

in the past has had no previous criminal convictions

17 Nov 2013 21:46

the person being talked about does not have a criminal record at all

18 Nov 2013 15:04

Had shown proper behaviour earlier

18 Nov 2013 19:06

It is when a court looks at your life in order to show you are a good person

18 Nov 2013 21:02

someone who previously didn't have a criminal record

18 Nov 2013 21:51

someone who was previously deemed not guilty, but has now after further evidence being brought forward, been named guilty.

18 Nov 2013 22:16

Previously a well mannered and behaved person.

19 Nov 2013 09:59

A character reference showing somebody to have demonstrated good personal qualities before event.

24 Nov 2013 10:36

You used to be good. Have no previous criminal convictions

30 Oct 2014 17:32

known to be trustworthy before

3 Nov 2014 20:29

Behavior previously has been of good standing because of position in the community, employment or family

5 Nov 2014 15:22

an instance in the past where an individual has been positively commended by officials

7 Nov 2014 20:56

Has no criminal record which could possibly reduce his sentence.

10 Nov 2014 16:07

Someone who has previously shown they are a good citizen before a current event.

10 Nov 2014 17:26

this person has no former criminal record

10 Nov 2014 19:15

A person that has no mental violence in them that ensures any violence is out of character

11 Nov 2014 08:38

A recorded history of good intention.

11 Nov 2014 14:17

The individual has had no previous convictions or history of bad or inappropriate behaviour that would sway the opinion of the judge in a court of law.

11 Nov 2014 14:42

Someone who was innocent and/or had no criminal records before the offending incident.

28 Oct 2015 22:33

Witness statement which advocates that the individual in the docks has before the event shown that they are a good person

6 Nov 2015 21:01

Has never had any past records or offences

9 Nov 2015 22:10

Always seemed to be an honest loyal person, no previous criminal records

10 Nov 2015 13:43

A term used to describe the personal history of the defendant in relation to their criminal history, describing them as having shown previous cooperative and just actions.

16 Nov 2015 17:42

Describe an individual giving a positive light on an individual.

19 Nov 2015 22:19

I'm the past you have behaved as a upstanding citizen in the community. i.e you do not have a criminal record

20 Nov 2015 00:10

Before the crime in question, the person who is accused has not committed a crime.

20 Nov 2015 16:59

Had good character before committing a crime

21 Nov 2015 10:09

Was good gone bad

22 Nov 2015 15:35

Not having a past record

22 Nov 2015 18:13

When a person has shown good personality traits in the past and maybe showed questionable behaviour in recent times

22 Nov 2015 23:28

no other convictions or arrests or unknown to the criminal system

23 Nov 2015 09:36

Previous good character would be a benefit to someone defending themselves in court, it could mean the jury are willing to consider their 'good character' as opposed to bad character or previous similar offences in their conviction.

23 Nov 2015 14:17

somebody that was 'good' in the past with reference to people's character statements on them

23 Nov 2015 14:45

Someone whose behaviour has changed from being socially acceptable to unacceptable in the eyes of the court.

9 Nov 2016 14:19

Someone who has been given positive references in the past about themselves

10 Nov 2016 10:55

That the offender has no previous convictions or has never been in trouble with the law before. They have previously been a helpful member in the community

10 Nov 2016 14:55

Someone who is known to be a good person before being accused

14 Nov 2016 14:16

A person that has no previous record or links to crime. Possiblt has made a positive contribution to their community

14 Nov 2016 17:23

You haven't had any previous history of any criminal action

14 Nov 2016 18:16

Where you have a clean criminal record until now

14 Nov 2016 22:24

No previous criminal offences

15 Nov 2016 10:38

The defendant has acted in a way that doesn't seem typical of them. They would normally be someone who does not get caught up in the law.

8 Nov 2017 17:19

a past of good behaviour

12 Nov 2017 18:09

The person has no previous convictions

16 Nov 2023 18:06

Somebody who has now been accused or found guilty of a crime, but has never previously been so accused.

19 Nov 2023 14:46

That means prior to the current charge, the suspect had a clean record

19 Nov 2023 17:02

Before a crime has been committed the person charged would have this.

19 Nov 2023 23:53

From looking at the suspects history, there is evidence of good character/qualities.

20 Nov 2023 10:49

They have never shown themselves to be bad or unlikeable

20 Nov 2023 16:11

The person being accused of something has done good things in society/ community to suggest the persons character

20 Nov 2023 21:17

Before this allegation/crime, the person did not have a criminal record and was reported and being a positive member of the community

21 Nov 2023 12:27

a person that has, in the past, shown themselves to be a good person. A positive refelction of character

21 Nov 2023 12:55

Someone who was a good person in the past. They may have become a bad person now.

21 Nov 2023 17:44

Good things that a person has done proving they were/are a good person

21 Nov 2023 22:01

In law I think this would be used to describe a person that was once held to high standards and was heading a good direction, but due to circumstances or bad decisions, this "character" is now portrayed in a different light. A negative one.

21 Nov 2023 22:13

That what I will say about you reflects that you have always been a person who is honest, law abiding, trustworthy and reliable.

22 Nov 2023 01:10

Someone in court, has never committed an offence like this and has made a clear mistake, but is a character of good-will.

22 Nov 2023 01:34

No previous conviction, enough evidence to show remorse and that a genuine bad mistake was made.

28 Nov 2023 17:12

seems like it's about a person's reputation or behavior before a particular incident.

2 Jan 2024 17:29

A person of kind and nice nature in the past. Someone who would not do any wrong and has evidence of this.

17 Sep 2024 23:33

Someone that has not had a criminal conviction previously.

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