Moral Turpitude
n. Gross violation of standards of moral conduct, or vileness, such that an act was intentionally evil, making the act a crime. The existence of moral turpitude, as used in criminal proceedings, can bring a more severe charge or penalty for a criminal defendant.
n. A criminal behaviour that gravely infringes on the moral sentiments of the community. It is classified as a malum in se type of crime. Examples include murder, larceny and aggravated assault. Such a finding can lead to deportation in the United States, one of many collateral consequences of criminal charges.
n. Conduct done knowingly contrary to justice, honesty or good morals.
Moral turpitude is “conduct that is inherently based, vile, or depraved, and contrary to the accepted rules of morality and the duties between persons or to society in general” (Jordan v. De George, 341 U.S. 223, 229, 71 S. Ct. 703, reh’g denied, 341 U.S. 956, 71 S. Ct. 1011 (1951).
Consequences of Moral Turpitude
Behaviour that falls under the definition of moral turpitude can result in the removal of persons in a position of legal authority.
According to the Immigration and Nationality Act, Sec 212 [8 U.S.C. 1182], an individual may be deemed inadmissible to the United States if they were found to have committed a Crime Involving Moral Turpitude (CIMT). Inadmissibility may be overcome by obtaining a Waiver of Inadmissibility. Examples of CIMTs include assaults (aggravated, with a weapon, or with intent to cause bodily harm), fraud, theft, break and enter (dwelling house), prostitution.
Allan Lee Dollison
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ADDED: ◼ My record at the DA's Office - Allan Dollison/for the Times-Standard
