There are varying degrees of criminal history levels in which a defendant may be classified, labeled Category I to Category VI. Factors that determine a defendant’s criminal history level include:
- the number of prior convictions a defendant has received
- the severity of the sentence(s) imposed
- the defendant’s conduct while incarcerated, on probation, or on parole.
A prior conviction may constitute one, two, or three points, depending on its severity. Defendants with the most severe criminal histories, classified as Category VI, have collected over 13 points before their current conviction. Violations that determine a defendant’s criminal history are not limited to tax offenses, but instead encompass any and all criminal charges for which he has been convicted.