Judges can take your prior criminal record into account when determining the severity of your sentence if you are convicted again.  New Jersey gives a range of potential penalties that can apply based on the type of conviction involved. For example, some felony-level offenses carry a jail term of between three and five years.  If you have already been convicted of the crime in the past, it is even more important to have a strong criminal defense team to advocate on your behalf to avoid conviction a second time if possible.