criminal liability

[ˈkrɪmɪnəl laɪəˈbɪləti]
nounpl: criminal liabilities
responsabilidade penal
1. The legal responsibility of a person for committing a crime; the state of being subject to prosecution and punishment under criminal law
The court determined that the defendant had criminal liability for the theft.
O tribunal determinou que o réu tinha responsabilidade penal pelo roubo.
2. The condition of being legally accountable for criminal conduct, requiring both a guilty act (actus reus) and guilty mind (mens rea)
Criminal liability requires proof of intent or negligence depending on the offense.
A responsabilidade penal requer prova de intenção ou negligência dependendo da infração.
3. In corporate law, the potential legal exposure of a company or its officers for violations of criminal statutes
The corporation faced criminal liability for environmental violations.
A corporação enfrentou responsabilidade penal por violações ambientais.
Criminal liability is a fundamental concept in both Brazilian and American legal systems. In Brazil, it is governed by the Código Penal (Penal Code), while in the United States it falls under federal and state criminal statutes. The concept is central to the judicial process in both countries, determining whether individuals or corporations can be prosecuted for illegal conduct. Understanding criminal liability is essential in legal practice, corporate governance, and public policy discussions in both nations.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
criminal responsibilitypenal liabilitycriminal culpabilitycriminal accountability
Antonyms / Antônimos
criminal immunityexemption from liabilityinnocence

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
responsabilidade penal
Standard legal term used in Brazilian courts and legislation
Rio de Janeiro
responsabilidade penal
Same as general Brazilian Portuguese
São Paulo
responsabilidade penal
Same as general Brazilian Portuguese; São Paulo has a strong legal tradition
Portugal
responsabilidade criminal
Portuguese Portuguese often uses 'criminal' instead of 'penal' in legal contexts

Related Words

actus reusmens reaguilty verdictprosecutionsentencingcriminal codeindictmentconviction

Related Idioms & Phrases

bear criminal liability
incur criminal liability
establish criminal liability
avoid criminal liability
criminal liability attaches
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