Legal Definitions - nulla poena sine lege

Definition: Nulla poena sine lege is a Latin phrase that means "No punishment without a law authorizing it."

Example: If someone commits a crime, they cannot be punished unless there is a law that says what they did is illegal and what the punishment should be. For example, if there is no law against jaywalking, then a person cannot be punished for crossing the street outside of a crosswalk.

Explanation: Nulla poena sine lege is an important principle in the legal system. It means that people cannot be punished for doing something that is not against the law. This principle ensures that the government cannot punish people arbitrarily or unfairly. The example of jaywalking illustrates this principle because if there is no law against it, then people cannot be punished for doing it.