Define: Malum Prohibitum

Malum Prohibitum
Malum Prohibitum
Quick Summary of Malum Prohibitum

“Malum prohibitum” is a Latin legal term used to describe conduct that is prohibited by law solely because it is prohibited, rather than inherently wrongful. In other words, these are acts that are considered wrong because they have been made illegal, as opposed to actions that are wrong in and of themselves (malum in se). Examples of malum prohibitum offenses include traffic violations, regulatory infractions, and certain administrative offenses. The severity of punishment for malum prohibitum offenses can vary widely depending on the jurisdiction and the specific offense committed.

What is the dictionary definition of Malum Prohibitum?
Dictionary Definition of Malum Prohibitum

(mal-uhm prohibit-uhm) adj. Latin meaning “wrong due to being prohibited,” which refers to crimes made so by statute, compared to crimes based on English common law and obvious violations of society’s standards which are defined as malum in se. Statutory crimes include criminal violations of regulatory acts, “white-collar crimes” such as improper use of insider information, issuance of stocks without a permit which are intentionally not supported by real assets and tax avoidance.

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This glossary post was last updated: 28th March, 2024.

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