West's Encyclopedia of American Law | 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.