Legal Definitions - criminalism

Definition: Criminalism refers to a pathological tendency towards criminal behavior. It can also refer to the branch of psychiatry that deals with habitual criminals.

Example 1: John has been arrested multiple times for theft and assault. Despite serving time in prison, he continues to engage in criminal behavior. This could be an example of criminalism, where John has a pathological tendency towards criminal behavior.

Example 2: In the past, criminalism was used as a term to describe the study of habitual criminals in the field of psychiatry. This is an archaic usage of the term.

The examples illustrate how criminalism can refer to both a tendency towards criminal behavior and a field of study within psychiatry. It highlights the importance of understanding the underlying causes of criminal behavior and how it can be addressed through appropriate interventions.