noun A type of law that is prohibited because it is deemed harmful, rather than inherently wrong
In legal contexts, malum prohibitum refers to acts that are considered wrong only because they are prohibited by law, not because they are inherently evil or immoral.
Malum prohibitum offenses are often minor infractions or regulatory violations that do not involve moral culpability.
In ethical discussions, malum prohibitum can be used to distinguish between acts that are inherently wrong and those that are wrong only because they are prohibited by rules or regulations.
In legal writing, a writer may use the term 'malum prohibitum' to discuss laws that are considered wrong because they are prohibited by authority, rather than inherently immoral.
Psychologists may refer to 'malum prohibitum' when discussing the concept of crimes that are illegal due to societal norms and regulations, rather than based on universal moral principles.
Lawyers often encounter 'malum prohibitum' when dealing with cases involving regulatory offenses or violations of laws that are not inherently immoral but are prohibited by statutes.
For law enforcement officers, understanding the distinction between 'malum prohibitum' and 'malum in se' is important in enforcing laws and determining the appropriate response to different types of offenses.