Legal Definitions - conduct

Conduct refers to a person's behavior, whether it is through their actions or inactions. It is the way in which a person behaves.

For example, if someone is polite and respectful towards others, we can say that their conduct is good. On the other hand, if someone is rude and disrespectful, we can say that their conduct is bad.

It is important to note that conduct does not include a person's natural death or a death that results from behavior that was not reasonably expected to have that result.

Conduct can also be used as a verb, meaning to behave in a certain way.

For example, if a teacher tells their students to conduct themselves in a respectful manner, they are asking them to behave in a way that shows respect towards others.

• Active conduct: This refers to behavior that involves a person doing something by exerting their will on the external world. For instance, if someone is actively participating in a sport, they are engaging in active conduct.
• Assertive conduct: This refers to nonverbal behavior that is intended to be a statement. For example, if a witness points their finger to identify a suspect in a police lineup, it is considered assertive conduct. This type of conduct is a statement under the hearsay rule and is not admissible unless a hearsay exception applies.

These examples illustrate the definition of conduct by showing how behavior can be categorized and how it can have different implications in different contexts. Active conduct involves doing something, while assertive conduct involves nonverbal communication. Both types of conduct can have legal implications, as seen in the example of assertive conduct in a court of law.