What is the meaning of nulla poena sine lege?
Asked by: Avis Ruecker Jr. | Last update: February 15, 2026Score: 4.7/5 (57 votes)
Nulla poena sine lege is a Latin legal principle meaning "no penalty without a law," asserting that an act can only be punished if it was clearly defined as a crime by law before it was committed, safeguarding individuals from arbitrary state power and ensuring legal certainty and fairness. It means people can't be punished for something that wasn't illegal at the time, and the punishment must match what the law prescribed, preventing retroactive criminalization and vague laws.
What does nulla poena sine lege mean?
Nulla poena sine lege (Latin for "no penalty without law", Anglicized pronunciation: /ˈnʌlə ˈpiːnə ˈsaɪniː ˈliːdʒiː/ NUL-ə PEE-nə SY-nee LEE-jee) is a legal formula which, in its narrow interpretation, states that one can only be punished for doing something if a penalty for this behavior is fixed in criminal law.
What is the meaning of nullum poena sine lege?
Nullum crimen sine lege is sometimes called the legality principle and is also interchangeable with "nullum poena sine lege," which translates to "no punishment without law." The phrase is often also used in connection with ex post facto laws. [Last reviewed in August of 2023 by the Wex Definitions Team]
Why is "nulla poena sine lege" important?
Multiple viewpoints have been expressed regarding the principle nulla poena sine lege (there exists no punishment without a pre-existing penal law). Some scholars advocate the inviolability of this maxim because it safeguards personal freedom—an opportunity to do everything not prohibited by law.
What happens if nulla poena sine lege is violated?
The Court found a violation of the principle nulla poena sine lege, which prohibits the retrospective effect of criminal legislation, but, at the same time, it stated that no heavier penalty was retrospectively imposed in the current case.
What does "Nulla Poena Sine Lege" Mean
What are the three principles of punishment?
These are retribution, prevention and rehabilitation. The first principle of retribution was highlighted by the Italian jurist Francesco Carnelutti. Punishment should allow the guilty person to repair the wrong that he or she carried out, which would have affected the people and tranquillity of society.
How do you pronounce Malala's father's name?
Malala Yousafzai's father's name is Ziauddin Yousafzai, pronounced roughly as Zee-a-din Yoo-saf-zai, with emphasis on the "Zee" and "Yoo" syllables, a common pronunciation guide suggests.
What is meant by the word poena?
In Greek mythology, Poena or Poine (Ancient Greek: Ποινή, romanized: Poinḗ, lit. 'recompense, punishment') is the spirit of punishment and the attendant of punishment to Nemesis, the goddess of divine retribution.
What is not forbidden is allowed.?
It is the concept that any action can be taken unless there is a law against it. It is also known in some situations as the "general power of competence" whereby the body or person being regulated is acknowledged to have competent judgement of their scope of action.
What is Article 22 of the Rome statute?
Article 22
A person shall not be criminally responsible under this Statute unless the conduct in question constitutes, at the time it takes place, a crime within the jurisdiction of the Court. 2. The definition of a crime shall be strictly construed and shall not be extended by analogy.
What is a bad law is no law in Latin?
Lex Malla, Lex Nulla: A Bad Law Is No Law Latin Legal Phrase T-Shirt.
What's the difference between mala in se and mala prohibita?
Key Differences
The true distinction lies in the nature of the act. For mala in se, it is inherently immoral; whereas for mala prohibita, the acts are considered criminal due to specific laws prohibiting it. In relation to this, another key difference between the two is the presence of the intent to commit the crime.
What is the ex lege law?
Ex lege āks lā´gā .
“From the law.”(1) By law or legal right. (2) Deriving from a legal right or obligation. E.g., “Each State Party shall provide in its internal laws for its nationality to be acquired by children born on its territory who do not acquire at birth another nationality.
What does sine mean in Gaelic?
Meaning:God is gracious. Sine is a feminine name of Irish and Scottish origin, meaning “God is gracious.” It is a variant of the Irish name Sheena and the Gaelic version of the Hebrew name Jane. Although a lovely-sounding given name, it was an old Celtic surname in Scotland that was popular among Viking settlers.
What does "áine" mean in Irish?
Áine (Irish pronunciation: [ˈaːnʲə]) is an Irish language feminine given name. It means "radiance" and is the name of the Irish Celtic goddess of wealth and summer Áine. Áine.
What three languages did Malala speak?
Malala grew up learning Pashto, her mother tongue, and also learned Urdu, which is the national language of Pakistan. From a young age she also started learning English, which came in handy when she moved to the U.K. in 2013.
How much does Malala cost to speak?
Malala Yousafzai's speaking fee typically ranges from $200,000 to $300,000.
What is retributivism?
Retributivism is a theory of criminal punishment which states that wrongdoers should be punished for their wrongdoing proportionate to the severity of their crime rather than to deter future crime or to rehabilitate them.
Who is the Holy 3 in criminology?
The Holy Three of modern criminology refers to three influential figures who made significant contributions to the field of criminology. They are Cesare Lombroso, Enrico Ferri, and Raffaele Garofalo.
What are the 4 pillars of punishment?
Western penological theory and American legal history generally identify four principled bases for criminal punishment: retribution, deterrence, incapacitation, and rehabilitation.