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Simple English definitions for legal terms
contemporary community standards
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A quick definition of contemporary community standards:
Contemporary community standards are the rules that people in a certain place and time use to decide if something is too offensive or sexual. This is important when deciding if something is obscene or not. The standards can be different in different places, so it's up to the people in that area to decide what is okay and what is not. Sometimes, the standards are decided by a jury, and they have to think about what the people in their area would think about the material.
A more thorough explanation:
Definition: Contemporary community standards refer to the measure by which a fact-finder determines whether material is obscene or not. This is based on its patent offensiveness and prurience in a particular locale at a given time.
For instance, if a book or movie contains explicit sexual content, a court may use contemporary community standards to determine whether it is obscene or not. This means that the court will consider whether the material is offensive and prurient based on the standards of the community where the material was distributed.
For example, if a movie with explicit sexual content is shown in a conservative community, it may be considered obscene based on contemporary community standards. However, the same movie may not be considered obscene in a more liberal community.
Contemporary community standards are used to ensure that material that is considered obscene in one community is not necessarily considered obscene in another. This allows for a more nuanced approach to determining obscenity and protects freedom of speech and expression.