Warning
Info
Warning
Info
Simple English definitions for legal terms
adequate provocation
Read a random definition: XYY syndrome
A quick definition of adequate provocation:
Adequate provocation: When someone does something that makes another person so angry or upset that they lose control and do something they wouldn't normally do, like commit a crime. This is called provocation. If the thing that made them lose control was serious enough, like someone attacking them or their family, it might be considered adequate provocation. This means that a reasonable person would also have lost control in that situation. If someone is found guilty of a crime but had adequate provocation, their punishment might be less severe.
A more thorough explanation:
Adequate provocation is when something happens that would cause a normal person to lose control and act impulsively, without thinking. This can happen when someone says or does something that affects a person's reason and self-control, causing them to commit a crime.
For example, if someone insults you and you react by hitting them, that could be considered adequate provocation. However, if someone insults you and you wait until the next day to plan and carry out a revenge attack, that would not be considered adequate provocation.
Adequate provocation can reduce a criminal charge, such as from murder to voluntary manslaughter. This is because the person's actions were not premeditated, but rather a result of the provocation they experienced.