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Simple English definitions for legal terms
informal immunity
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A quick definition of informal immunity:
Informal immunity is a type of protection that someone gets without an official agreement. It means that they cannot be held responsible for something they did or did not do. For example, if a prosecutor decides not to charge someone with a crime, they have pocket immunity, which means they cannot be charged with that crime later. Informal immunity can also apply to government officials, who may be protected from lawsuits because of their job.
A more thorough explanation:
Informal immunity is a type of immunity that results from a prosecutor's decision not to prosecute, instead of from a formal grant of immunity. It is also known as pocket immunity.
For example, if a witness is hesitant to testify in a criminal case because they fear self-incrimination, the prosecutor may offer them informal immunity. This means that the prosecutor will not use their testimony against them in any future criminal proceedings.
Another example is when the U.S. government is working on a federal project or activity in a certain region, causing an influx of federal employees. The impacted area, which includes the local school district, may experience a decline in tax revenue due to the government's immunity from local taxes.
These examples illustrate how informal immunity can provide protection to individuals or entities in certain situations, even without a formal grant of immunity.