Legal Definitions - situational offender

Definition: A situational offender is a person who commits a crime due to the circumstances they are in, rather than because of their personality or character.

For example, someone who steals food because they are hungry and have no other means of obtaining it would be considered a situational offender. Another example would be someone who commits a crime under duress, such as being threatened with harm if they do not comply.

The examples illustrate the definition because they show that the person's actions were influenced by their situation, rather than their inherent nature. In both cases, the person may not have committed the crime if they were not in a desperate situation or under threat.