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.

mala in se