decriminalization

decriminalization
The repeal or amendment of statutes which made certain acts criminal, so that those acts no longer are crimes or subject to prosecution.
Category: Criminal Law
Category: Small Claims Court & Lawsuits

Nolo’s Plain-English Law Dictionary. . 2009.


decriminalization
n. The legislature's act of amending laws to permit a previously illegal act.

Webster's New World Law Dictionary. . 2000.

decriminalization
n.
   the repeal or amendment of statutes which made certain acts criminal, so that those acts no longer are crimes subject to prosecution. Many states have decriminalized certain sexual practices between consenting adults, "loitering" (hanging out without any criminal activity), or outmoded racist laws against miscegenation (marriage or cohabitation between people of different races). Currently, there is a considerable movement toward decriminalization of the use of some narcotics (particularly marijuana) by adults, on various grounds, including individual rights and contention that decriminalization would take the profit out of the drug trade by making drugs available through clinics and other legal sources.

Law dictionary. . 2013.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Decriminalization — or Decriminalisation is the abolition of criminal penalties in relation to certain acts, perhaps retroactively, though perhaps regulated permits or fines might still apply (for contrast, see: Legalization). The reverse process is criminalization …   Wikipedia

  • decriminalization — 1945, from DE (Cf. de ) + CRIMINAL (Cf. criminal) + IZE (Cf. ize) + ATION (Cf. ation). Especially in reference to narcotics since c.1968 …   Etymology dictionary

  • decriminalization — (Amer.) n. act of making something legal that was formerly illegal (also decriminalisation) …   English contemporary dictionary

  • decriminalization — decriminalize (also decriminalise) ► VERB ▪ cease to treat (something) as illegal. DERIVATIVES decriminalization noun …   English terms dictionary

  • Decriminalization of marijuana — could refer to: Legality of cannabis Medical cannabis Cannabis rescheduling Cannabis reform at the international level In the United States: Decriminalization of non medical cannabis in the United States Places that have decriminalized non… …   Wikipedia

  • Decriminalization of non-medical cannabis in the United States — United States non medical cannabis decriminalization laws (as of January 2009) Note: Federal law bans all forms of cannabis and THC as a schedule I drug, as per the Controlled Substances Act of 1970 …   Wikipedia

  • Decriminalization of non-medical marijuana in the United States — [ ] ColoradoIn Colorado, Amendment 44 would have legalized possession of 28.45 grams or less by adults age 21 and older, but the amendment was rejected by 60 40 percent. [cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2006/pages/results/states/CO/I/04/|… …   Wikipedia

  • decriminalization — noun see decriminalize …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • decriminalization — See decriminalize. * * * …   Universalium

  • decriminalization — noun /diːˌkrɪmɪnəlaɪzˈeɪʃən/ The act of making a previously illegal activity no longer treatable as a criminal offence.<!but not the same as legalisation Ant: criminalization …   Wiktionary

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