malum prohibitum

(mal-[schwa]m proh-hib-i-t[schwa]m), n. [Latin “prohibited evil”] An act that is a crime merely because it is prohibited by statute, although the act itself is not necessarily immoral. • Misdemeanors such as jaywalking and running a stoplight are mala prohibita, as are many regulatory violations. Pl. mala prohibita Cf. MALUM IN SE. — malum prohibitum,adj.

malum prohibitum (mal-[schwa]m proh-hib-i-t[schwa]m), n. [Latin “prohibited evil”] An act that is a crime merely because it is prohibited by statute, although the act itself is not necessarily immoral. • Misdemeanors such as jaywalking and running a stoplight are mala prohibita, as are many regulatory violations. Pl. mala prohibita. Cf. MALUM IN SE. — malum