Which term describes offenses that reflect moral wrongness independent of the law?

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

Answer: (A)

Mala in se describes offenses that are morally wrong in themselves, independent of what the law says. This term captures acts that violate fundamental moral norms—things like murder or rape—so their wrongness isn’t just because a statute forbids them, but because of the inherent moral culpability. The other terms refer to different crime elements: actus reus is the actual unlawful act or omission; corpus delicti is the body of the crime or the facts proving a crime occurred; and mens rea is the mental state or intent behind the act. So the idea of moral wrongness inherent in the act itself is best captured by mala in se.