Mala in Se

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MALA IN SE

Wrongs in themselves; acts morally wrong; offenses against conscience.

In criminal law, crimes are categorized as either mala in se or mala prohibita, a term that describes conduct that is specifically forbidden by laws. Although the distinction between the two classifications is not always clear, crimes mala in se are usually common-law crimes or those dangerous to life or limb.

battery and grand larceny or petit larceny are examples of offenses that courts have held to be mala in se.