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Simple English definitions for legal terms
cumulative offense
Read a random definition: de custode amovendo
A quick definition of cumulative offense:
A cumulative offense is when someone commits multiple violations of the law, which can be minor or major crimes. It can also refer to the unlawful taking of someone else's property. An allied offense is a crime that is so similar to another that committing one automatically means committing the other. An arrestable offense is a crime for which the punishment is fixed by law or for which a statute authorizes imprisonment for five years or more.
A more thorough explanation:
Definition: A violation of the law that adds up over time, often resulting in more severe punishment for repeat offenses.
For example, if someone is caught driving under the influence (DUI) multiple times, each offense will add to their cumulative offense record. This means that the punishment for their latest offense will be more severe than the punishment for their first offense.
Another example of a cumulative offense is shoplifting. If someone is caught stealing from a store multiple times, each offense will add to their cumulative offense record. This means that the punishment for their latest offense will be more severe than the punishment for their first offense.
Cumulative offenses are taken very seriously by the legal system because they show a pattern of behavior that is not being corrected. The punishment for repeat offenses is often more severe in order to deter people from continuing to break the law.