Which term describes offenses that are wrong by their very nature?

• A. Mala in se
• B. Mala prohibita
• C. Corpus delicti
• D. Mens rea

Answer: (A)

Acts that are wrong by their very nature are described as mala in se. This category rests on the idea that certain actions are inherently immoral or harmful, regardless of specific laws or social norms. For example, murder, rape, and kidnapping are offenses that society views as wrong in their very essence; their illegality comes from the nature of the act itself, not because a statute says so.

By contrast, mala prohibita refers to acts that are illegal mainly because the law forbids them (like certain traffic violations or regulated drugs), where the behavior might not be inherently immoral.

The other terms are different concepts: corpus delicti is about the proof of the crime—the essential facts showing that a crime occurred; mens rea concerns the mental state or intent required to hold someone criminally liable.