Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[flaps]

hi,

I'm looking for a crime terminology with the meaning 'disgraceful crime' I know every crime is disgraceful, but if you have committed this kind of crime (e.g. torture or pedophilia) for example you cannot be a member of parliament or civil servant. What's the word?

[ab]

If you commit an "Indictable offence" you are no longer able to to join Police and military forces amoung other things. I think thats the word you want
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ab2146

[flaps]

thanks for your answer ab.

Is indictable offence the same as felony? I think the word you suggest is related to being loyal to one's country.

I was actually looking for a crime word which is commited against human dignity, e.g. torture or genocide.
Is there a crime called 'heinous crime'?

[ab]

a felony is an american term, i think it is a lesser cime, you'd have to go to ask.com and type in "what does felony mean". I think a felony is typically punishable by a fine, or a probation.

an indictable offence is one step more serious. An indictable offence is one where you go to jail, and are left with a permanent crimnal record and cannot be employed by police, militarty, etc. It doesn't have anything to do with being loyal.

The word heinous is used to describe a type of crime, not its severity, like felony or indictable do. A heinous crime is where you chop of a persons body parts or inflict permanet disability etc. A heinous crime would be an indictable offence.
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ab2146

[flaps]

hi,

I did some research and came across with the term crimes mala in se and crimes mala prohibitum.
The former (comes from Latin and means wrong in itself) means an act that is illegal from the nature of the act, i.e. it is inherently evil without any fact of its being noticed or punished such as rape, murder.
The latter is an offense prohibited by statute but not inherently evil or wrong, such as traffic violations. (still I think traffic violations are mala in se )

There is also moral turpitude: an act or behavior that gravely violates the sentiment or accepted standard of the community e.g. bigamy