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Simple English definitions for legal terms
strict-liability crime
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A quick definition of strict-liability crime:
A strict-liability crime is when someone is punished for breaking a law, even if they didn't mean to do it. It doesn't matter if they didn't know it was against the law or if they didn't intend to break the law. For example, if someone sells alcohol to a minor, they can be punished even if they didn't know the person was underage. It's like getting in trouble for accidentally spilling milk, even though you didn't mean to do it.A more thorough explanation:
A strict-liability crime is a type of crime where a person can be punished even if they did not intend to commit the crime. It is enough that they committed the act that is considered a crime. For example, selling alcohol to a minor is a strict-liability crime, even if the seller did not know the buyer was underage.
Other examples of strict-liability crimes include traffic violations, environmental offenses, and some drug offenses. These crimes are considered to be in the public interest to prevent harm, so the law holds people responsible for their actions, regardless of their intent.